A procedure known as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can provide effective treatment for hair loss, dermatologists suggest.

“A general body of evidence has recently emerged demonstrating a positive response from PRP treatments,” says Jeffrey Rapaport, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in New Jersey, in a media release from American Academy of Dermatology.

“With consensus forming around treatment protocols, studies are indicating that PRP is a safe, effective hair loss treatment that has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life of millions of people.”

PRP therapy involves placing blood drawn from the patient into a special machine that separates red blood cells from plasma, which is rich in platelets that contain growth factors.

In hair loss therapy, the plasma is directly injected into the patient’s hair follicles in a process that takes no more than 10 minutes, according to Rapaport. Since the procedure involves only minimal discomfort, he says, patients typically do not require any numbing or downtime following therapy.

After the initial treatment, injections are repeated once a month for the next 3 months, and then once every 3 to 6 months after that. Within the first few months of treatment, patients may notice they are losing less or minimal amounts of hair, Rapaport says, and soon after, they may begin to see an increase in thickness or eventual regrowth, the release explains.

PRP therapy has been found to have high success and satisfaction rates in certain hair loss patients, including those with hereditary hair thinning or baldness, Rapaport notes.

He recommends that those considering the procedure consult with a board-certified dermatologist to determine if it’s the right option for them, adding that PRP may be used in conjunction with other treatments to give patients the best possible results.

[Source(s): American Academy of Dermatology, MDLinx Dermatology]