Hair loss in men and women can be treated using platelet-rich plasma (PRP). We use your own plasma (blood) for these hair-loss cures, which, whilst it sounds a little unconventional, PRP has had success in treating partial baldness effectively.
Can baldness be cured?
Research shows that PRP may play a beneficial role in hair regrowth in people with pattern hair loss. The hair-growth results are clinically significant in trials, meaning yes, PRP for hair regrowth works. How well it works in each person is variable, however.
The ‘magical baldness cure’ is still being developed, and treatments so far are not absolute, but PRP shows promise in at least regaining at least some head hair for those experiencing balding. This means PRP can help with partial baldness but not complete baldness. Of course, hair transplants are an option, but they too depend on what hair you have available for transplant. We do not do hair transplants at ENRICH Clinic.
The process of PRP injections as a hair loss treatment
First, we draw some blood from your arm, about 18ml. This blood is put into a centrifuge, which separates out the important elements in the blood. The concentration of platelets is increased in the plasma by removal of other blood elements such as white and red blood cells. This results in platelet-rich plasma.
The platelets are then activated using a special added ingredient into the plasma – calcium. Inactive platelets won’t do anything, but activated platelets secrete growth factors that have an impact on local cells. This is how PRP works within your cells to regenerate whatever cells are nearby. In this case, it’s head hair follicles.
You’ll need several treatments, 30 days apart, and follow-up treatments as needed. Results may start to taper off at about 14 months after the last treatment.
Results of PRP hair loss cures – is this a true hair loss cure?
In PRP baldness trials, hair density increased, with the number of hairs per square millimetre of the scalp increasing. The thickness of the scalp also increased, along with a slight increase in the number of blood vessels to the area.
After three months, hair should start to regrow, and be thicker.
It’s important to note that the centrifuge being used for PRP hair loss cures matters, since a high-quality machine gets more platelets per blood sample. Talk to your cosmetic dermatologist at ENRICH about this at your appointment. The centrifuge really matters for this hair loss treatment, so demand only the best.
Need more proof? Check out the science behind PRP as a baldness cure.
Side-effects of the PRP hair loss cure
PRP as a hair loss treatment is very well tolerated and side-effects are rare.
What sorts of baldness can be treated with PRP? Is PRP a true baldness cure?
There are a few different types of baldness, with PRP hair-regrowth cures focusing on male pattern baldness and autoimmune-related hair loss. Androgenic alopecia (baldness in men and menopausal women) is due to the damage that certain androgens (male-type hormones) have on hair follicles. In a nutshell, androgens kill hair follicles in susceptible people.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes the loss of hair across the body. PRP treatment studies involving patients affected with Alopecia are producing good results.
Baldness is men, in particular, is extremely common, however baldness in women is less discussed. Around 80 per cent of men will experience some balding across their lifetime, while 40 per cent of women will. PRP can treat baldness in men and women.
Typically drug therapies are recommended for hair loss, however these act to block androgens throughout the whole body, which has secondary effects that can be unpleasant. Hair transplants may also be recommended, but the same issues that affect the current hair follicles will also affect the new transplants.
In PRP, new, healthy hair follicles are stimulated to grow a hair, and the health of the scalp in supporting these hairs is improved.
How is PRP helps control baldness
Growth factors released in activated platelets trigger regeneration of cells, which provides the baldness cure of PRP. This occurs naturally in the body after trauma, like a cut or scrape or broken bone. The platelets send signals to other cells nearby to jump into action to repair the damaged site.
The theory is that growth factors released from platelets act on the follicles, stimulating new follicle development and a fresh blood supply. Interactions between cells and the growth factors active the growing phase of hair follicles, which will later produce a new hair.
Got questions? Check out PRP cure for baldness FAQ.
Why do we lose our hair and how does this factor into a baldness cure? Can baldness be cured?
It’s important to understand the hair growth cycle when we’re talking hair loss and hair loss cures. There is a specific change in the hair growth cycles in balding whereby the growth and stability of a hair are interrupted. It is also important to understand that everyone is unique and can have different reactions to treatments from extreme to mild.
Hair growth cycles in normal and bald people
- Anagen phase
- Catagen phase
- Telogen phase
Baldness treatments – the anagen phase
This phase of the hair growth cycle lasts about 3-5 years, with head hair growing about an inch per month, while hair grows faster in summer than winter. A full head of long hair may reach up to 30 inches. The anagen phase is usually longer in Asians, where one hair can grow for as long as seven years and grow up to a metre long.
Baldness treatments – the catagen phase
When the anagen phase of your hair growth cycle ends, the catagen phase starts. This phase is about 10 days long, and is a transitional phase.
Baldness treatments – the Telogen phase
The telogen phase is where your hair is released and falls out. The follicle it fell from then has a period of rest for a few months, and then it starts all over again. All your hair follicles are independent operators, having their growth cycles at different times, keeping your head constantly full of hair.
The hair growth cycle means you always have hair on your head, and shed some hair each day. It’s normal to lose about 80 hairs off your head each day.
The interruption of the hair growth cycles and how this causes baldness
Interruptions to hair growth can be caused by health conditions, but the most common cause of interruptions to hair growth is pattern balding.
Hair follicles that don’t have everything they need or are actively being destroyed may struggle to produce a hair, resulting in thinning hair or balding.
Androgenic alopecia means short anagen phases and the type of hair changes from thick and coarser, to thinner and more wispy hair types (terminal to vellus). Drug therapies attempt to increase the anagen phase.
We do PRP hair loss treatments in men and women.
Contact our clinic to start your journey back to a full(er) head of hair
