Our April tip of the month featured laser hair removal and began with, “Excess hair can cause psychological and emotional stress.” The same can be said for loss of scalp hair for both men and women. There are many products and treatments promoted to grow scalp hair but most lack supporting scientific data. Exceptions include topical minoxidil liquid and foam (Rogaine and others) available over the counter for men and women and oral finasteride (Propecia), by prescription, for men. The efficacy of various oral supplements and low level laser treatments is less well documented.
In recent years, many studies have shown that a series of PRP injections can stimulate scalp hair growth in both men and women. The treatments involve collecting a patient’s blood in a sterile test tube. The tube is placed in a centrifuge to separate various components of blood. The component containing PRP is drawn into a syringe and small amounts are injected into scalp areas lacking hair.
A cold air cooling devise is held at the sites of injections to minimize discomfort. The entire process takes approximately 30 minutes. A series of 3 monthly treatments followed by treatments every 3 months during the first year then twice yearly to maintain the benefit is recommended. Studies have shown that PRP contains many growth factors that are activated following injection. These growth factors stimulate various mechanisms involved in hair growth. To determine if you’re a good candidate for PRP please schedule a consultation with your dermatologist.
