Platelet Rich Plasma Results in Male Pattern Baldness
"PRP can wake up dormant hair follicles so hair grows thicker and more dense,” notes Dr. Fleck. PRP is rapidly becoming the go-to treatment for hair loss in both men and women.
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (PRWEB) March 05, 2019
Vitalité Med Spa in Fredericksburg, Texas, under the direction of Robin Fleck, MD, is now offering platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) for the treatment of hair loss. PRP is rapidly becoming the go-to treatment for hair loss in both men and women. In under an hour, platelets are separated from the patient's own blood and injected back into the scalp. Platelets contain growth factors which stimulate blood vessels that nourish the hair follicle and trigger the growth of hair.
The most common cause of hair loss in both sexes is called hereditary pattern alopecia, a condition in which the hair follicle shrinks, and eventually disappears altogether. Over time this can eventually result in the loss of all hair, usually on the top of the scalp. In the past, the only hair loss treatments available were topical medications such as Rogaine and Propecia, and costly hair transplants. Patients who have undergone PRP have noticed hair growth and thickness within 3 months; however, maintenance PRP may need to be done every 6 to 12 months.
A 2015 study using PRP for hereditary alopecia showed an increase in the number and density of hair follicles after 3 monthly sessions of PRP. Only four of the twenty patients in the study noted recurrent, progressive hair loss after 12 months and required re-treatment.
Grace, a recent patient notes, “PRP is completely safe because the platelets come from your own body, thus avoiding any allergy concerns.”
PRP therapy is not for everyone. Those with low platelets, chronic liver disease, thyroid disorders, clotting issues or who are taking anti-coagulation therapy should not undergo this therapy. Further, those who smoke or use alcohol are not ideal candidates for this procedure. Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen block platelet activity, so those would need to be discontinued for several weeks before PRP therapy. PRP will not be effective in patients who are completely bald. In addition, those who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy or radiation do not usually respond to PRP.
“When patients are properly selected, PRP can wake up dormant hair follicles so hair grows thicker and more dense,” notes Dr. Fleck. “The best candidates are those whose hair loss is recent and whose hairs, while smaller, are still visible.”
Robin Fleck, M.D., is a double board certified dermatologist and internist, recognized by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is founder and medical director of Vitalité Optimum Health & Beauty Med Spa in Fredericksburg, Texas, where she offers Botox and cosmetic filler treatments, and Southwest Skin and Cancer Institute, and Vein Specialties, in Prescott, Arizona, where she treats chronic venous insufficiency, spider veins, and varicose veins and offers full service dermatology care. Dr. Fleck has also authored Recipe for Beautiful Skin in six volumes.