PRP for Hair Loss

Androgenetic alopecia is inherited pattern hair loss that affects men and women. It is the most common form of hair loss in adults. In men, pattern hair loss is characterized by progressive thinning and hair loss at the temples and crown. In women pattern hair loss is characterized by widening of the part and diffuse thinning all over the top of the scalp. Pattern hair loss affects almost 80% of men and 40% of women by age 50. Hair loss significantly impacts self-esteem and quality of life.

Autologous platelet – rich plasma (PRP) is an effective treatment to promote new hair growth and increase hair density. Autologous indicates that the PRP is made from your own blood. PRP is a safe and effective treatment for pattern hair loss.

What causes pattern hair loss?

Pattern hair loss is the result of the actions of male sex hormones on genetically susceptible hair follicles. The exposure of hair follicles to male sex hormones causes pattern hair loss by shrinking hair follicles and shortening hair growth cycles. New research suggests that the female hormone estrogen may also be involved.

What is Platelet-rich Plasma?

Platelets are part of the blood, along with plasma, red blood cells, and white blood cells.

Platelets are critical to wound healing and tissue repair. They contain a complex set of hundreds of biologically active proteins called growth factors and stem cells that regrow hair by regenerating the blood supply to dormant hair follicles.

PRP is a solution made from your own blood of concentrated platelets and growth factors to increase the potency of platelets. Increasing concentrations of platelets and growth factors harnesses the natural wound healing ability to heal and regenerate tissue. PRP for hair loss is a regenerative therapy.

PRP has been used in sports medicine and dentistry for more than two decades to accelerate healing. PRP therapy for hair loss is scientifically proven to regrow hair, increase hair count, thickness, and lengthen hair growth phase.

How is PRP made?

A small amount of blood is drawn from the patient and spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the cellular component of the blood to increase platelet concentrations by about five times that found in the plasma. The concentrated platelets containing growth factors are injected into the scalp in various areas after the scalp is numbed. PRP may also be applied after microneedling when the tiny microchannels soak up the PRP to fertilize the hair follicles.

PRP therapy is very safe. Because it is made from your own blood and injected back into you, there is no risk of adverse reaction, or disease transmission.

How does it work?

PRP cannot revive dead hair follicles. Instead, it stops the process of thinning, nourishes the hair follicles, and increases the blood supply to revive thinning hair follicles. However, hair grows in stages so multiple treatments are important to capture and repair all the miniaturized hair follicles and stimulate hair growth.

Dr. Michael Sotiriou is a board-certified dermatologist who is passionate about his work. You will always be treated with respect in his a private, state of the art office at Salt Lake Dermatology & Aesthetics. Contact him to schedule a consultation to learn how he can help you achieve health and beauty of the skin, hair, and nails.