The Answer to Hair Restoration May Be in Your Blood

Pattern baldness is a condition that troubles approximately 50 million men in our country. We generally perceive hair loss as a men’s health issue, but it is also important to note that about 30 million women in America are also struggling with pattern baldness. We recently discussed the various reasons why the hair growth cycle may get interrupted. Here, we touch on the value of platelet-rich plasma, a product found in the blood, for hair restoration.

How Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Works

The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) began to intensify a little more than ten years ago. In the early stages of clinical research, PRP was observed for its ability to accelerate the natural healing process after surgery, injury, or joint deterioration. Today, platelets are used for regenerative purposes that include skin and hair rejuvenation.

PRP therapy involves taking a small amount of blood from the arm. The vial of blood is processed in a high-speed centrifuge, which separates red and white blood cells from the plasma. This blood product contains an abundance of platelets, which have growth-factors that stimulate natural physical processes. When platelets are introduced into tissue, blood vessels repair, collagen production increases, and cellular regeneration speeds up.

Studies have suggested that injecting platelet-rich plasma into the scalp lengthens the active phase of the hair growth cycle. Treatment focuses on the part of the scalp at which hair loss or thinning has occurred, and typically involves a series of injections that are scheduled as often as every month for the first few months of treatment. Injection intervals are arranged based on factors including hormonal wellness, age, the extent and pattern of hair loss, and genetics.

Does PRP Hair Restoration Actually Work?

While there has been substantial evidence to confirm the regenerative qualities of platelet-rich plasma in joint and wound healing, the use of PRP as a form of hair restoration is relatively new. However, this therapy has demonstrated strong value in critical studies.

In a 2014 study in India, men with pattern baldness who had previously been treated with approved medication such as Minoxidil or Finasteride were then treated with PRP therapy. The study participants had not achieved substantial improvement from pharmacological treatment. After four treatment sessions in which platelet-rich plasma was injected into the scalp, the men exhibited an increase of 30% in hair growth in the treated areas. An additional study, conducted in Italy in 2017, achieved similar results.

Your Teaneck, NJ dermatologist can help you get your hair back. The sooner that PRP treatment is conducted after hair thins, the better the results from treatment can be. Learn more at 201-836-9696.