Losing your hair at any age can be distressing.  Millions of Americans suffer hair loss, which can lower self-esteem and make you feel old and unhappy with your appearance. Some of the most common causes of hair loss in men and women include, genetics, lifestyle habits, diet, and medication.  Many people facing hair loss resort to medicated solutions and the latest technologies to regrow their hair, but results are not consistent and may not work for everyone.  The board certified dermatologists at Premier Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, offers PRP for hair loss.  Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a substance found in the blood which contains a high concentration of growth factors. Growth factors can stimulate the follicles to be come active again which, in turn, helps the hair grow back stronger and thicker.  It’s a simple and relatively painless in-office procedure that has produced impressive results for many of our patients to date.

The treatment begins with a blood draw right in our office. We put the blood into a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the blood cells. Platelet rich plasma can then be drawn into a syringe which is applied to the scalp in areas that are showing signs of balding or premature balding. PRP goes deep into the skin and into the follicle to stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth. There is no downtime involved and no stitches or sutures to worry about. PRP for hair loss supports a natural process of hair regeneration and regrowth which is why the results are so impressive.  This therapy can be combined with hair transplantation or medications such as Propecia, minoxidil or spironolactone.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Blood is comprised of two main components red blood cells and plasma. Plasma contains white blood cells and platelets which are rich with growth factors. Growth factors act as messengers to signal cells to function and has been used in medicine to treat a wide range of health issues including arthritis, wound healing, antiaging and more. For people with thinning hair or progressive hair loss, these growth factors may help stimulate the activity of hair follicles and promote new hair growth.

The clinical evidence for use of PRP in hair loss is for the most part anecdotal but there are many clinical cases showing it’s effectiveness in increasing hair counts, thickness and the growth phase of the hair cycle. More evidence based research is required to assess the true efficacy of PRP injections in hair restoration.

Risks

There are very few risks and minimal to no downtime associated with PRP injections. There may be some local swelling and bruising that resolves after a couple of days. Tylenol and ice packs are recommended for post procedure care.

Who are candidates?

Anyone who is experiencing hair loss is a good candidate for PRP treatments but those with early hair loss and progressive hair thinning tend to respond the best. PRP is best used for patients with androgenetic alopecia which is a genetically determined form of hair loss that typically affects the top of the head. In women, this might look like a widening part within the normal hair thickness in the back of the head.

Typically, patients usually note decreased hair shedding on their clothes, hair brush and/or shower drains and increased length and thickness of the hair. The general consensus is for PRP treatments every 3-6 months on a long-term basis are optimal to stimulating growth factors and stem cells that are associated with hair regrowth and stopping hair loss.