Aging is the inevitable process of life that each of us has to adapt to if we are lucky enough to go through it.  With aging come changes to our bodies that we may or may not be prepared for, leaving it up to us to adapt in the ways that best benefit our well-being.  We are lucky though, because with the continued advancements in technology and medicine, more and more innovative treatments are emerging to combat several illnesses and diseases to provide us with the chance to live a longer, more prosperous life.  PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment is an example of such an innovative treatment, and it is used to combat hair loss.

        As women, we understand that our looks will fade with time and it may be a tough pill to swallow when we look in the mirror because we might see wrinkles, age spots, or thinning hair.  It is at that point where we begin to ponder how we can fix these things – or better yet – just try to keep them from getting worse so quick. Surprisingly enough, female-pattern hair loss affects nearly 50 percent of women over the course of their lifetime (Gentile et al., 2017).  The good thing is that women’s hair loss is something that can be treated in order to avoid negative self-conscious feelings and to maintain dignity so one may continue to feel good about themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. The onset of hair loss may be observed as early as the age of 18, however the way hair loss progresses greatly differs between genders (Gentile et al., 2017).  Particularly, in females the hair is typically observed to thin out diffusely, but will rarely result in complete baldness (Gentile et al., 2017).

        So what exactly is this PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment for women’s hair loss?  PRP treatment is appropriate for female-pattern hair loss, as it can be used to thicken up the hair that remains, while also working to boost the growth of new hair (Kalra & Mathur, 2017).  How does PRP treatment work you might ask?

•         Blood is drawn from the individual who is affected by thinning hair via a standard blood draw procedure (Kalra & Mathur, 2017).
•         The blood is placed in a centrifuge and spun so that all of its parts – the cells, serum, and platelets – are all isolated from one another (Kalra & Mathur, 2017).
•         The platelets are then drawn up into a syringe because they contain natural growth factors; once drawn up, the platelets are then injected into the areas of the scalp that are most affected by hair loss (Kalra & Mathur, 2017).

        Within three months of using PRP treatment one should begin to see and feel a change in their scalp, while also observing a decrease in the amount of hair that is shed compared to before receiving the PRP treatment (Kalra & Mathur, 2017).  Then, within six months of PRP treatment the hair should begin to both look and feel thicker (Kalra & Mathur, 2017). PRP treatment should not be sought after as a cure to thinning hair and baldness; rather PRP treatment works to thicken the hair in targeted areas and decreases the amount of hair that is lost over time (Kalra & Mathur, 2017).

        Ultimately, PRP treatment is a rather innovative way to help combat the thinning hair that may be daunting you when you look in the mirror.  The neat thing about it is that your PRP treatment will be unique to you because it comes from your own blood, making it an all natural treatment.  Finally, since becoming more informed on the PRP treatment procedure, if you or your loved one ever were to seek out treatment for hair loss, considering PRP injections as your treatment of choice may now be an option closer to the top of your list.

Contributed by: V.A. MD PRP Treatments 106-15 Queens Boulevard #16 Forest Hills NY 11375 (718) 766-5229

References:

Gentile, P., Cole, J., Cole, M., Garcovich, S., Bielli, A., Scioli, M., Orlandi, A, Insalaco, C, & Cervelli, V. (2017). Evaluation of not-activated and activated PRP in hair loss treatment: role of growth factor and cytokine concentrations obtained by different collection systems. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(2), 408.

Kalra, S., & Mathur, K. (2017). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for hair. Int J Eng Technol Sci Res, 4(6), 88-93.