Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Hair Loss:
An Overview
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for hair loss also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated significant improvements in hair density, thickness, and growth. PRP treatment involves injecting concentrated platelets from your own blood into the scalp, leveraging growth factors to stimulate hair follicle regeneration.
How PRP Works
PRP contains high concentrations of growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). These factors promote cell growth in hair follicles.
Clinical Evidence
Studies have shown that PRP significantly increases hair density, follicle count, and hair thickness compared to placebo. One systematic review of 11 randomized controlled trials found that PRP injections significantly improved these parameters, with patients reporting high overall satisfaction.
Individual randomized controlled trials support these findings. In female AGA, 57% of PRP-treated patients showed improvement versus only 7% receiving placebo, with mean density increases of +105.9 hairs/cm² in the PRP group compared to -52.4 hairs/cm² in controls at 24 weeks. Another study demonstrated increases from 151 to 171 hairs/cm² with PRP treatment.
Treatment Protocols
The most commonly recommended protocol involves 3 monthly injection sessions followed by maintenance treatments every 6 months. One study found that monthly treatments for 3 months with a booster at 6 months produced more rapid and profound improvements (29.6% mean increase) compared to treatments every 3 months (7.2% increase)
PRP can be used as monotherapy or combined with standard treatments. Studies comparing PRP with minoxidil and finasteride suggest PRP offers a safe and effective alternative, particularly for patients who cannot tolerate or prefer to avoid these medications. The combination of PRP with minoxidil demonstrated the highest rates of improvement and patient satisfaction.
Safety Profile
PRP is remarkably safe with only minor, temporary side effects. The most commonly reported adverse effects include localized pain at injection sites, mild bleeding, itching, scalp tightness, swelling, and redness. These effects typically resolve shortly after treatment. Mean pain scores are low (approximately 2 out of 10), and treatments are generally well-tolerated. No serious adverse events have been reported in clinical trials.
Patient Selection and Expectations
Some studies indicate greater improvement in lower-grade hair loss, while others found correlations with patient age and disease duration. Both men and women with AGA can benefit from treatment.
Patients should understand that results require time and multiple sessions. Improvements typically become apparent after the initial 3-month treatment course, with continued enhancement at 6 months. The treatment requires ongoing maintenance to sustain benefits.
