PRP (platelet rich plasma) is a treatment used by doctors to encourage hair growth. PRP can be used for various areas of the body. One common condition that shrinks hair follicles is referred to as androgenic alopecia. It is a common condition also referred to as male pattern baldness. PRP is now being used by doctors as a promising treatment.

You may be unfamiliar with this treatment because it is relatively new. It has, however, shown promising results. Let's look at what researchers are saying about the effectiveness of PRP and examine how doctors are using it.

What Is Platelet Rich Plasma?

An essential role is played by PRP in healing. Along with white and red blood cells, platelets are a component of blood. Some of the body’s initial defenses when a person sustains a wound or cut are platelets. To stave off bleeding and promote healing, they are the body's first responders.

Knowing this, theories were put forth by researchers that the extraction of concentrated platelets could accelerate healing if injected into a body’s damaged areas. A range of proteins and growth factors are contained within PRP which speed up the repair of tissues. Because damage to hair follicles results in some types of hair loss, it was theorized that hair regrowth (a reversal of the loss process) could be achieved by using PRP.

PRP is also used to treat injuries to ligaments, muscles, tendons, etc

Does PRP Work for Hair Growth?

A systematic review was carried out by a team of researchers in 2019 to discover whether or not PRP treatments were assisting in hair growth. Studies found that hair loss was reduced, the diameter of hair increased, and hair growth density improved.

Still, PRP remains a controversial treatment. There has not been enough research done, or large number of recorded successful samples available, to officially determine a success rate.

In another study (also in 2019), hair loss treatments using PRP showed that those suffering from alopecia experienced hair growth in many cases. Once again, however, results were said to be officially inconclusive due to different administration techniques, session intervals, preparations, etc.

Without a standardized protocol for injections, at this point, no recognized authority is willing to conclude undeniably that an effective treatment for hair loss is the use of PRP treatments.

More About PRP Treatment

If you are interested in PRP treatment for hair loss, here are some additional factors you may wish to know about:

• Several sessions may be necessary.
• Without any limitations, after pretreatment, you can usually get back to regular activities.
• The process can take approximately one hour.
• Hair loss may be prevented, and hair growth promoted, by certain changes to your daily routine and diet.
• Compared to Rogaine, it is a far more convenient process – 3 to 4 times a month for PRP versus daily applications of Rogaine (success rates, cost, and discomfort where PRP is concerned varies per case).

At SPRI (Sports, Pain & Regenerative Institute), we deal with more than just physical pain from injuries or illness, including PRP treatments. Our goal is to maximize our patient's full potential through empowerment and improved education. In this manner, we work hard to help individuals return to the lifestyles they enjoyed formerly.