Both men and women can experience hair loss for a variety of reasons, and there’s no shortage of potential treatments on the market. One treatment that has been growing in popularity in recent years is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a medical procedure in which a patient’s blood is drawn, processed in a centrifuge, then injected back into the scalp to encourage hair growth. Here’s how PRP treatments can help with hair loss.
How Do PRP Hair Treatments Work?
Human blood is made up of two main substances: red blood cells and plasma. Blood plasma contains white blood cells and platelets, which can stimulate growth when introduced to the segments of the scalp showing signs of hair thinning or loss. PRP therapy involves processing the patient’s blood to draw out platelet-rich plasma, then re-injecting it into the patient’s scalp near the thinning hair follicles. To help ensure optimal results, PRP therapy typically requires one brief treatment every month for three months.
The Potential for Hair Regrowth
Results from PRP therapy vary from patient to patient, but the benefits can usually be seen after the first two or three months of treatments. A patient may initially notice stronger hair and decreased shedding, followed by some regrowth and lengthening of existing hair. Combining PRP therapy with other hair-loss treatments such as nutrition therapy, medications, and topical treatments can help promote even more noticeable results.
Am I a Good Candidate for PRP Therapy?
Whether it’s due to heredity, aging, hormonal imbalance, or another cause, virtually any patient who’s suffering from hair loss can receive and potentially benefit from PRP therapy. Treatments work best, however, in patients who are losing their hair due to androgenic alopecia, which causes hair to thin at the top of the head in the crown area. Patients should be in good overall health before receiving treatments and should abstain from smoking, taking blood thinners, and abusing drugs and alcohol.
In addition to PRP therapy for hair loss, The Dermatology Clinic offers patients in the Baton Rouge, LA area a full range of dermatological treatments and services, including treatments for conditions such as acne, eczema, melasma, and shingles. Request an appointment today to learn more about whether PRP therapy may be a solution to your hair loss.
