Hair loss, at any age, can be embarrassing and unattractive. It can make a person look prematurely aged and can detract from other features of the face, giving unwanted attention to balding.
Fortunately, natural treatments are growing in popularity to help regrow hair, including Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, also called PRP.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is derived from the bloodstream and has been used for years to treat musculoskeletal conditions, and more recently, skin conditions. Colloquially termed “vampire” treatments, PRP injected into the skin or used after microneedling (a technique that uses small needles to create microscopic skin wounds) may help to improve skin texture and appearance.
Recently, PRP has garnered attention as a promising solution for one of the most challenging problems in dermatology: hair loss.
Platelets are one of four primary components of blood (the other three are red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma). Platelets promote cell growth and regeneration. As the term “platelet-rich plasma” suggests, platelets are generally about five times more concentrated in PRP than in regular blood. This concentration of platelets is useful, because platelets secrete growth factors that are thought to assist in wound healing and tissue regrowth.
When it comes to hair loss, the theory is that platelets, injected deep into the scalp to reach the bottom of the hair follicle, may stimulate a specialized population of cells named dermal papilla cells, which play a critical role in hair growth.
Although PRP is a relatively new approach, there is some scientific evidence to suggest that it can promote hair growth.
The following steps are an example of a common approach to PRP injections for hair loss:
A medical professional draws blood from a vein in the arm.
They place the blood sample in a centrifuge.
The centrifuge spins the blood, separating its components.
A medical professional extracts the platelets using a syringe.
A doctor injects the platelets into targeted areas of the scalp.
The entire process may take about 1 hour, and several sessions may be necessary. After receiving PRP treatment, a person can usually return to their regular activities without any limitations.
PRP is not a cure for conditions that cause hair loss. For this reason, a person would need to receive multiple PRP treatments over time to maintain hair growth results. The same is true of medications that doctors commonly use to treat androgenetic alopecia, such as topical minoxidil (Regaine) and oral finasteride (Propecia).
The doctor’s recommendations for how often a person should have PRP will vary depending on a person’s condition and the results of their initial treatment. The doctor may suggest having maintenance injections every 3–6 months once hair loss is under control.
According to Hopkinsmedicine.org, PRP injections are used for a range of conditions,* from musculoskeletal pain and injuries to cosmetic procedures.
PRP injections may be able to treat a range of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. For example, chronic tendon injuries such as tennis elbow or jumper’s knee can often take a long time to heal, so adding PRP shots to a treatment regimen can help to stimulate the healing process, decrease pain and enable a return to activities sooner.
Clinicians first used PRP to accelerate healing after jaw or plastic surgeries. Now, post-surgical PRP injections have expanded to help heal muscles, tendons and ligaments, as procedures on these tissues have notoriously long recovery times.
Early studies indicate that PRP injections may help treat osteoarthritis pain and stiffness by modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation, but research is growing.
125 North Orlando Ave. Suite 115 Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 606-6746
1155 Nikki View Dr. Brandon, FL 33511 (813) 681-8624
10116 Montague St, Suite 8 Westchase, FL 33626 (813) 749-7550
220 North Howard Ave Tampa, FL 33606 (813) 254-6141
1821 Bruce B Downs Blvd Suite 114 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 (813) 558-9500
ABOUT THE FOUNDER OF AGE REJUVENATION
Brett Markowitz founded AgeRejuvenation to provide a solid structure of weight loss, nutrition, anti-aging, and hormone balance solutions for his beloved patients. His goal is to help permanently change the patient’s everyday wellness habits so each individual can live a healthier and happier life.
Article Sources:
Comentarios