Male pattern baldness has been the subject of much discussion over the last couple of decades with all kinds of treatment options - from hair plugs, chemical shampoos, and even colored sprays. When it comes to hair loss talk - women get the short end of the stick. Much less talked about is female hair loss that can lead to thinning and bald patches.
Both men and women suffer from thinning hair as they age, and while this condition is often hereditary, it could also be related to hormonal changes, skin conditions, and even high stress, among other things. If you’re not keen on the look of hair plugs and you’re worried about the potential side effects linked to minoxidil (not to mention the limited effectiveness), you might despair of saving your hair.
Luckily, there is another option, one that you probably haven’t heard of: PRP. Platelet-rich plasma is a substance found in your own blood that can be separated out from a blood sample and used as an injectable for all kinds of purposes.
PRP is frequently used to stimulate collagen and elastin production as a means of promoting tissue healing (following surgery, for example) and increasing the effectiveness of facial rejuvenation treatments, but it’s healing properties could also be employed to treat certain types of hair loss. Why should you consider PRP injections in the scalp as a potential treatment for your hair loss?
A Safe Alternative to Hair LossTreatments
Although using PRP for hair growth is a relatively new application, there’s no denying it’s much safer than other types of treatment. Unlike hair transplants that require surgery or chemical treatments like minoxidil that can have significant adverse side effects, the use of PRP is totally natural and safe.
This substance comes from your own body, so you won’t have to worry about being allergic, as with some other treatments. PRP injection is an outpatient procedure typically performed under local anesthetic for your comfort and convenience.
You won’t experience any downtime following treatment – you can resume normal activities immediately. It’s normal to experience mild discomfort following the procedure, but this can generally be treated with nothing more than over-the-counter painkillers.
PRP is Effective for Treating Hair Loss
As with most treatments for hair loss, the answer could depend on the reason you’re suffering hair loss. For example, minoxidil doesn’t treat underlying causes of hair loss, such as hormone fluctuations, and this limits how effective it can be.
As for PRP, studies have shown it to be most effective at treating hair loss related to androgenic alopecia (responsible for male and female pattern baldness) and alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder). PRP could reduce hair loss for people with these conditions, and even boost hair growth, as well as increase the diameter of hairs for a thicker appearance.
With androgenic alopecia, in particular, hair follicles shrink, causing the hair to die and slough off. The concentrated growth factors and proteins found in PRP could counteract this damage to hair follicles, increase blood supply to the area, and potentially reverse the effects of certain types of alopecia so that hair can regrow.
Further study will determine if PRP is effective at treating other types of hair loss. For those who suffer hair loss as a symptom of an underlying disorder, such as a chronic disease, this and other treatments may not be effective if you’re not also treating the cause of hair loss. For the many people who suffer from male or female pattern baldness, however, PRP injections in the scalp are a safe and effective treatment to consider, especially for those concerned about chemical or surgical treatment options.
If you’re suffering from hair loss and seeking a safe alternative to chemical or surgical treatments, don’t hesitate to contact Beverly Fischer, MD and the qualified professionals at The Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery at 410-308-4700 or online to schedule a consultation and learn more.
