Using your own growth factors to support healthier hair
Hair loss can affect both men and women and may be influenced by genetics, hormones, menopause, illness, nutritional deficiencies, medication, stress or rapid weight loss. One of the most researched uses of platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, in aesthetics is the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male or female pattern hair loss.
What is PRP?
PRP is prepared from a small sample of your own blood. The blood is placed into a specialist centrifuge, which separates and concentrates the platelet-rich portion of the plasma. This is then carefully injected into targeted areas of the scalp. Platelets are best known for their role in clotting, but they also release signalling proteins and growth factors involved in tissue repair, cell communication and new blood-vessel formation.
These include:
- Platelet-derived growth factor
- Vascular endothelial growth factor
- Transforming growth factor
- Insulin-like growth factor
- Epidermal growth factor
These biological signals may help improve the environment surrounding the hair follicle and support follicles that are still active.
What does the science show?
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis examined clinical trials of autologous PRP for androgenetic alopecia. The researchers found that PRP injections significantly improved:
- The number of visible hair follicles
- Hair density
- Hair thickness
When compared with placebo or control treatment. The findings support PRP as a promising treatment for pattern hair thinning in both men and women. However, PRP does not create completely new follicles where follicles have been permanently lost. It is generally most effective when thinning is treated early, while hair follicles remain active.
How may PRP help the hair follicle?
PRP is thought to act on several biological processes involved in healthy hair growth.
It may help:
- Support dermal papilla cells at the base of the follicle
- Encourage follicles to remain in the active growth phase
- Improve blood-vessel signalling around the follicle
- Reduce premature transition into the resting phase
- Support tissue repair
- Improve the thickness and quality of existing hair
Hair grows in cycles, so results are gradual rather than immediate.
Who may benefit?
PRP may be considered for clients experiencing:
- Male or female pattern hair loss
- Early-stage hair thinning
- Reduced hair density
- Widening of the hair parting
- Menopausal hair changes
- Increased shedding following illness or physiological stress
- Hair thinning associated with significant weight loss
PRP is not suitable for every type of hair loss. Sudden, severe or patchy hair loss, an inflamed scalp or suspected scarring alopecia should be medically investigated before treatment.
Why consultation matters
Hair shedding is a symptom—not a diagnosis. Before beginning PRP, it is important to consider why the hair is thinning. Depending on the individual, this may involve assessment of:
- The pattern and duration of hair loss
- Medical history and medication
- Recent illness or surgery
- Hormonal or menopausal changes
- Rapid weight loss
- Protein and calorie intake
- Iron and ferritin
- Thyroid function
- Vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D or zinc where clinically indicated
- Scalp health
PRP cannot correct an untreated nutritional deficiency, thyroid disorder or inflammatory scalp condition.
Why is a course recommended?
A single treatment cannot change the entire hair-growth cycle. PRP is generally recommended as a planned course of approximately three treatments, usually four weeks apart, followed by clinical review and maintenance where appropriate. Some clients first notice reduced shedding. Improvements in thickness and density take longer and are best assessed through consistent photography over several months.
What results can you expect?
PRP may help improve the density, strength and quality of existing hair. Results vary according to:
- The cause and stage of hair loss
- The number of active follicles remaining
- Age and hormonal influences
- General health and nutrition
- The PRP preparation method
- The treatment schedule
- Adherence to any accompanying medical or homecare plan
PRP is not a guaranteed cure for hair loss, but scientific reviews support it as a promising regenerative treatment for suitable clients with pattern hair thinning. The earlier a struggling follicle is supported, the greater the opportunity to preserve and improve the hair that remains.
This 2023 paper is a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials evaluating autologous PRP for androgenetic alopecia, or hereditary pattern hair loss. It found that PRP injections significantly improved hair-follicle numbers, hair density and hair thickness compared with placebo or control treatments. The authors also concluded that PRP had an acceptable safety profile. However, they noted that preparation methods and treatment protocols varied between studies, so results are not identical for every client.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36729475/
