A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- and Active-Controlled, Half-Head Study to Evaluate the Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Alopecia Areata
April 2013
in “
British Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Platelet-rich plasma treatment significantly increased hair regrowth and decreased discomfort in alopecia patients, making it a potentially better and safer treatment option.
A decade ago, a study was conducted on 45 patients with alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. The patients were treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), triamcinolone acetonide (TrA), or a placebo. The results showed that PRP significantly increased hair regrowth, decreased hair dystrophy and burning/itching sensation, and raised Ki-67 levels, a marker for cell proliferation, compared to TrA or placebo. No side effects were reported during the treatment. The study concluded that PRP could be a safe and effective treatment option for AA, potentially a better alternative to TrA. However, the researchers emphasized the need for further controlled and randomized studies to confirm these findings in a larger patient group.