Platelet-Rich Plasma—An 'Elixir' for Treatment of Alopecia: Personal Experience on 117 Patients with Review of Literature

In 2017, a study involving 117 patients explored the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a treatment for alopecia. PRP, a concentration of platelets in plasma, contains over 20 types of growth factors that can influence tissue repair. The researchers proposed a hair model called "Golden anchorage with ‘molecular locking’ of ectodermal and mesenchymal components for survival and integrity of hair follicle (HF)". They found that PRP, with its autologous supply of growth factors, works on this 'Golden anchorage' in a multipronged manner, promoting hair growth. The study found PRP to be a simple, cost-effective treatment option with high patient satisfaction. In a smaller study involving 10 patients, hair loss was reduced by an average of 65% within 3 months. New hair growth was observed as early as 7 days in some patients. The researchers' personal experience with 65 male and 50 female patients showed new hair growth as early as 4 weeks in male patients and 6 weeks in female patients. The increase in hair count was statistically significant in the male group. The document concluded that PRP therapy works as an "elixir" for hair growth, as it has action on almost all the essential components required for survival of hair follicles.