An emerging treatment — platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy — helps regrow lost hair. And, there are virtually no side effects from PRP, except for a mild feeling of pressure at the injection site, says dermatologist Dr. Chontirot.
How does PRP therapy work?
Physicians began using PRP therapy about a decade ago to speed up the healing process in damaged joints after injury or surgery.
During the treatment, a technician draws your blood and spins it in a centrifuge to separate out the platelets and plasma. Doctors then inject the plasma, which helps repair blood vessels, promote cell growth and wound healing, and stimulate collagen production.
Doctors began using PRP in dermatology after researchers found that high concentrations of platelets in plasma cells help promote hair growth by prolonging the growing phase of the hair cycle.
Doctors inject plasma into the scalp where hair loss has occurred. They typically administer injections monthly for three to four months, then spread them out over about three or four months for up to a year. The injection schedule will depend on your genetics, pattern and amount of hair loss, age and hormones.
How does PRP therapy compare with other options?
Other treatments for hair loss currently on the market are often more problematic for many patients, Dr. Chonitot says.
There are two FDA-approved medications for treating hair loss: finasteride and minoxidil. But you must take these drugs consistently over time and results are inconsistent, she says.
Each drug also sometimes has side effects:
Minoxidil may cause dryness and itching on the scalp.
Finasteride may cause sexual dysfunction in men.
Hair transplantation is another option, but it requires cuts in the scalp and recovery time is longer, she says.
Because it is a surgical procedure, doctors typically recommend hair transplantation only for those who have dramatic hair loss. A transplant is also more costly and leaves scars. Doctors can perform PRP therapy prior to transplantation, which can provide better results with more dense hair growth, Dr. Chontirot says.
Researchers see promising results
Recent research bears out the potential of PRP therapy.
In a 2014 study, researchers looked at men with male-pattern baldness who used both approved medications, but saw little change in their hair growth.
After four PRP treatments, they had about 40% more growth in thinning areas.
A 2017 study out of Italy also found male patients had increased hair and density in areas where doctors used PRP therapy.
Dr. Chontirot says it takes about three months to see an improvement. After that time, most of her patients – both male and female – have regrown 30% to 40% of the hair they’ve lost.