PRP for Genetic Hair Loss: What is the evidence?

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR GENETIC HAIR LOSS

Minoxidil and Finasteride are two FDA approved treatments for genetic hair loss. Other treatments like low level laser therapy (LLLT) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) are also possibilities. 

What is PRP?

Platelet rich plasma is a treatment whereby a patient's own blood is used for treating his or her hair loss. We no longer live in a world where we wonder if PRP works. We have now entered an era where we have evidence it does something and now need to figure out how well it works and who it works in.  

To date there have been approximately seven studies on the role of platelet rich plasma in treating genetic hair loss. These studies include:


1) Schiavone et al 2014

Number of patients in study: 64 patients

Design: PRP every 3 months

Results: At 6 months, 40.6% to 54.7 % had clinically significant change

2) Cervelli et al 2014

Number of patients in study: 10 patients

18 mL blood

Design: Randomized half head study

Results: Significant increase in terminal hairs at 3 months

3) Gkini MA et al

Number of patients in study: 20 patients

Design: 16 mL blood; 3 treatments q 21 days and at 6 months

Results: Hair increased; 7 out of 10 satisfaction rating

4) Park et al
Number of patients in study: 1 patient

Design: Weekly treatment x 4 week

Results: Hair grew faster

5) Kang JS et al

Number of patients in study: 13 patient

Design: One treatment

Results: Improved number of hairs and thickness

6) Khatu et al, 2014

Number of patients in study: 11 every

Design: 2 weeks x 4 treatments

Results: Improved thickness & hair counts by 22.09 FU per cm2

7) Betsi et al 2012
 

Number of patients in study: 42

Design: 16 mL blood

Results at 3 months; High patients satisfaction 7 of 10; Improvement in hair volume 

REFERENCE LIST

Cervelli et al. The effect of autologous activated platelet rich plasma (AA-PRP) injection on pattern hair loss: clinical and histomorphometric evaluation. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:760709. 

Gkini MA et al. Study of platelet-rich plasma injections in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia through an one-year period. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2014;7:213-9. 

Kang JS et al . The effect of CD34+ cell-containing autologous platelet-rich plasma injection on pattern hair loss: a preliminary study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2014;28:72-9. 

Khatu et al, Platelet-rich plasma in androgenic alopecia: myth or an effective tool. Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2014;7:107-10. 

Park et al. Letter: Platelet-rich plasma for treating male pattern baldness. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38:2042-4. 

Schiavone G et al. Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: a pilot study. Dermatol Surg. 2014;40:1010-9.