Platelet-Rich Plasma
The Norwegian medical name is actually platelet-enriched plasma, abbreviated PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), and has been used in traditional medical treatments for many decades, but is now increasingly used in cosmetic treatments due to its cell regenerating effect.
How and why does it work?
Our blood consists mainly of two main components – red blood cells and plasma.
Plasma is full of white blood cells (leukocytes) and growth factors (Wikipedia link). Both, but especially growth factors, are essential for increasing cell renewal, preventing degradation (aging) of the body's organs, and for the production of new capillaries (blood circulation).
Why do we lose our hair?
The reason for hair loss can largely be explained by the fact that blood circulation around the hair follicles deteriorates. As the small blood vessels (capillary circulation) around the hair follicles diminish, they produce thinner and thinner hairs until production stops completely.
How does PRP work against hair loss?
With the help of PRP, we can now stop hair loss and, to some extent, reverse early hair loss.
It has been clinically proven that injecting PRP into a specific area increases capillary blood flow, which in turn means that the hair follicles are "awakened" to life again.
Hair follicles that have only produced thin hairs will, thanks to PRP, produce thick hairs again. Hair follicles that have completely stopped producing hair are a little more difficult, but it has been proven that hair follicles that do not produce hair can remain "dormant" for 5 years without dying completely.
This means that with the help of increased blood circulation, these follicles will be able to produce hair again. In fact, clinical studies have shown that PRP increased the number of producing hair follicles by 22% in an area of 1 cm2. Now, 22% may not sound like much, but these were hair follicles that did not produce hair before the patient was treated with PRP. The study also showed that the hair thickness of producing hair follicles increased by 70%.
Who can be treated with RPR?
All types of alopecia can be treated with PRP, but alopecia androgenica (hereditary hair loss) and alopecia areata are the types for which most clinical studies with PRP have been conducted. Areas where the hair is completely gone are difficult to treat. So-called diffuse hair loss (spread hair loss, where the hair becomes thinner) is easy to treat and gives the best results. Unfortunately, people who have been completely bald for a long time cannot be treated, as the hair follicles are probably no longer active.
How many treatments are necessary?
As we mentioned earlier, the main cause of hair loss is reduced blood circulation around the hair follicles.
But why does blood circulation around the hair follicles decrease as we age?
There are many reasons for reduced blood circulation around the hair follicles, but this article will not go into detail about any of them. Hormones, and especially the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), play an important role in hair loss. Researchers have concluded that DHT is the main cause of hereditary hair loss in men. The hormone constricts blood flow around the hair follicles, causing them to die.
There are several medications that reduce DHT production, of which Propecia is the best known and most commonly used in the treatment of male pattern baldness. PRP does not reduce DHT, it only "fixes" the damage caused by DHT, allowing the hair follicles to produce hair again.
Although a single treatment may be enough to stop hair loss, a course of 3 treatments over 3 months is always recommended.
Link: Clinical study – The effect of PRP on hair loss