When platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections first became newsworthy just about five years ago, most of the attention was on treating sports injuries and facilitating better facelifts. PRP therapy is still used for those things today. But there is another application that does not get as much attention: androgenetic alopecia. A recently released study suggests it’s time to start paying attention.
There are very few successful therapies for treating androgenetic alopecia. Among those currently approved by the FDA, none is guaranteed to work for the vast majority of patients. Indeed, alopecia treatments are generally hit-or-miss.
Could PRP injections be the answer? It is too early to tell. However, the previously mentioned study calls PRP therapy ‘promising’ as an alopecia treatment. Note that the small scale and limited resources associated with the study’s findings subsequently limit the value of the data.
What the Study Revealed
Rather than being clinical in nature, the study was a systematic review of previous studies and literature covering a total of 291 male patients with androgenetic alopecia. The control group was treated with placebo while the test group was treated with PRP injections. Researchers relied on the Hamilton and Norwood scale combined with a linear analog scale to measure patient satisfaction.
Here’s what the data shows:
- Treatment satisfaction was reported by 70% of the PRP cohort.
- Greater satisfaction was measured among patients receiving both PRP and minoxidil.
- The most commonly reported side effect was scalp pain.
- No significant long term side effects were reported.
Although 291 patients represent a very small test group, a 70% satisfaction rate is still impressive. Such high satisfaction rates, combined with minimal side effects, explain why the researchers believe PRP is promising as an alopecia treatment.
A Fairly Simple Procedure
At this point, PRP therapy has a lot going for it. Whether it’s utilized as a treatment for musculoskeletal injuries or hair loss, it is a fairly simple procedure with minimal risk of complications or serious side effects.
PRP therapy is one of the treatments offered at Lone Star Pain Clinic in Weatherford, TX. Lone Star doctors encourage the treatment for some cases of androgenetic alopecia. They also say that a typical treatment involves one course of injections per month, over a period of three months.
Treatment starts with a standard blood draw. The appropriate amount of blood is drawn from the patient being treated, making PRP therapy an autologous procedure. The blood is spun in a specialized centrifuge to isolate platelets, growth factors, and plasma. The resulting material is then injected into the scalp at targeted locations.
This is an outpatient procedure that allows a person to resume normal activities right away. Scalp pain generally subsides within a few hours to a day or so. The biggest risk is that of infection, though infection is a risk with all injections.
Not Right for Everyone
Doctors and patients alike report moderate success with PRP injections. But the therapy isn’t right for everyone. For example, the therapy generally doesn’t work well for patients who are already fully bald. The injections are more likely to succeed for patients with thinning hair. In addition, some patients may need to repeat the treatments within three to six months depending on hair density at the time of the first treatment.
Is PRP therapy the proverbial pot of gold alopecia patients have been looking for all along? It is unlikely. But a growing body of evidence suggests it may be the solution for some patients. PRP therapy shows promise as a method for encouraging the body to correct alopecia through more natural means.
