Platelet-rich plasma, commonly known as PRP, is a type of blood plasma that has long been utilised to treat musculoskeletal conditions, and more recently, skin ailments. PRP injected into the skin or used after micro needling (a method that utilises small needles to generate microscopic skin incisions) can assist to enhance skin texture and appearance. In more recent years, PRP has gained notice as a possible treatment for one of dermatology’s most difficult problems: hair loss.
What is PRP?
Understanding how PRP works necessitate knowledge of platelet function in healing.
Platelets, like red and white blood cells, are found in the blood. Platelets are some of the body’s “first responders” when a person gets a cut or a wound. They arrive to prevent the bleeding and encourage healing.
Researchers hypothesized that extracting concentrated platelets and injecting them into injured parts of the body might speed up the healing process, and they were quite right about that!
A medical professional will take a blood sample and spin it in a centrifuge to create PRP. This machine spins at a high speed, separating the blood components. The platelets & plasma are then extracted and ready for injection by the medical practitioner.
Does PRP actually work for hair loss?
Androgenic alopecia, commonly known as male-pattern and female-pattern baldness, is the most common kind of hair loss that can be treated with PRP therapy. However, starting treatment in the early stages of hair loss is more likely to be effective. It may also help those with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition in which hair falls out in clumps, producing circular bald areas.
If your hair loss is caused by a disorder that produces scarring on the scalp, such as lupus, PRP therapy is less likely to be effective. Hair follicles cannot usually be reactivated when scarring has occurred.
PRP is a fantastic option for people suffering from hair loss. In most individuals with thinning hair, the procedure produces significant results. It not only slows hair loss, but it also promotes hair regrowth.
So, the answer to this question is yes it absolutely works, however, it is best to speak to a healthcare professional to see what best suits your needs and condition.
Possible risks and side effects
PRP is generally safe and well tolerated because it uses your own plasma and growth factors. An infection is possible, but your doctor will take precautions to avoid it, such as wiping the scalp with alcohol. Injury to blood vessels or nerves, calcification at the injection site, and the formation of scar tissue are all possible but rare side effects.
To limit the danger of side effects, find a provider that has completed a PRP therapy-training course and has been conducting it for at least a few years.
How many sessions are needed?
Three sessions, up to eight weeks apart, make up a full course of PRP treatment for hair loss. In four to six weeks after treatment, you should notice fresh hair growth. To keep seeing benefits, you may require maintenance treatments every six to twelve months.
The takeaway
As we have discussed, PRP treatment is a non-surgical medical procedure that involves injecting concentrated plasma rich in growth factors and nutrients extracted from your own blood into areas of your scalp where hair growth is needed. It’s safe to say that it is an excellent and effective method for reversing hair loss and promoting hair regrowth.