New Year, New Hair! PRP Hair: A great in-office procedural option for hair loss – Kristin Scord, PA-C

Hair loss concerns plague 40% of men and women over 35, 65% over 60, and 70% over age 80! There are various types of hair loss including genetic and hormonal, autoimmune-induced and scarring forms; as well as various additional contributors like stress, nutritional challenges and external influences. It can be a major aesthetic concern as well as cause an individual psychosocial stress.


What IS PRP?
“Platelet-Rich Plasma”
Simply put, it’s a simple injection of your own platelets into the vascular layer of your scalp. It is an autologous preparation of concentrated plasma consisting of plasma concentrations up to 7 times higher than normal plasma. This is filled with numerous growth factors that tell your tissue to regenerate and multiply!

So, what does it do?
Platelet-rich plasma acts on the stem cells in the area of the hair follicles to stimulate the development of new follicles along with neovascularization, or the growth of more blood vessels to the area to contribute to hair regeneration.
This results in:
*Increases blood supply to the follicle
*Increases the thickness of the hair
*Triggers and maintains the growth phase
*Helps to control the hair growth cycle
*Decreases hair loss
One of the biggest benefits is that it uses your own materials and lacks serious adverse effects while effectively improving hair density and thickness in men and women.
What types of hair loss does it work for?
PRP shows promise with Androgenic Alopecia, Alopecia Areata, and some potential in some scarring forms of hair loss. Its most common and well-studied platform is with androgen-related progressive thinning of scalp hair by genetic and hormonal factors. Other current treatment options often include topical options such as minoxidil and/or oral medications like finasteride, or steroid injections in some cases. PRP has become a nice alternative or addition!
What do the Studies Say?
In a meta-analysis of 30 studies including almost 700 patients, for use of PRP in genetic hair loss, 29 of the studies reported beneficial results and 24 showed significant statistical measured outcome of hair density and thickness.
In patients with Alopecia Areata — an autoimmune, reversible, patchy hair loss–studies showed an observable amount of hair regrowth in 70% of patients and a decrease in symptoms including burning and itching.
PRP has also shown promise in primary cicatricial alopecias (PCAs) that are characterized with lymphocytic inflammation that ultimately causes destruction of the hair follicle where the first line is steroids for their anti-inflammatory properties to calm and remodel scar tissue. PRP is believed to help mimic these steroid responses as well.
Again, ultimately the procedure has shown reliable results without any major side effects.
All studies encourage patients to continue topical and/or oral therapies or supplementation because while PRP works very well locally where injected, it does not address or cure any other underlying systemic causes.
What does the treatment look like? Fairly Simple!
*Blood is drawn in a special tube
*The blood is then centrifuged to concentrate and separate the concentrated platelets
*Using a small needle, the platelets are then injected strategically into your scalp in the areas that need improvement
Treatment
Treatment intervals are 4 treatments spaced 1 month apart, then generally maintenance treatments of 2-3 times per year.

Costs
4 treatments of PRP spaced monthly for initial treatment $3400; $850 per maintenance treatment thereafter.
For evaluation of your hair loss or any questions regarding PRP, give us a call and we’d love to see you! We offer virtual and in-person consultations.