Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a new, minimally invasive technique that has been shown to promote hair growth in some studies. PRP is harvested from your own blood and delicately injected into the desired areas of the scalp. It has shown positive results for male and female pattern hair loss, as well as for alopecia areata.
A recent study that evaluated patients with hereditary (pattern) hair loss, found that after 3 monthly PRP treatment sessions, there was clinical improvement in the mean number of hairs, with a mean increase in total hair density of 27.7 (number of hairs/cm2) compared with baseline values. (Cervelli V. et al. BioMed Research International, 2014).
Similarly, another study evaluating patients with pattern hair loss, showed benefit from PRP injections every 2 weeks for a total of 4 sessions, with an average mean gain of 22.09 follicular units per cm2. (Khatu SS. J Cutan Aesthet Surg, 2014).
PRP was also noted to improve hair regrowth in some alopecia areata patients, when compared to placebo or intralesional steroid injections (Trink A, et al., British Medical Journal, 2013). Finally, it has also been shown to induce faster transition of hairs from a resting (telogen) phase to an active (anagen) phase, in mice. (Li ZJ et al., J Cutan Aesthet Surg, 2014)
If you are interested in receiving this treatment, please call our office at 703-574-7510 to schedule an appointment.
