Did you know that according to the American Academy of Dermatology it is typical to lose 50 to 100 hairs per day? Hair loss is more common than most people realize. Hormones, age, genetics and medications are just a handful of reasons one might experience hair loss, from minimal to severe. Types of hair loss are mainly categorized in 4 ways: anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, and FPHL/MPHL (female and male pattern hair loss). Anagen effluvium is caused by medications that poison the growing hair follicle, such as chemotherapy and even some thyroid and anxiety medications. Telogen effluvium is caused by an increased number of hair follicles that are forced into a resting phase then excessively shed due to some sort of trauma or stress. Alopecia areata is sudden hair loss that starts with one or more circular bald patches. Female and male pattern hair loss or baldness, as well as androgenetic alopecia, are the most common types of hair loss with hair thinning over the top of the head and on the sides. 

Thinning hair can be a huge cause of concern and possibly embarrassment for both men and women. Platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) injections for hair loss are a relatively new treatment option in dermatology. Platelet-rich plasma is a non-surgical process that uses a patient’s own blood drawn from the arm, placed into a centrifuge and spun to separate the blood into 3 layers (plasma rich in platelets, platelet-poor plasma and red blood cells), and then uses only the plasma rich in platelets (PRP) via injection into the scalp. PRP has approximately 5 times the number of platelets found in ordinary blood that include the following growth factors used to stimulate hair growth: platelet-derived growth, transforming growth, insulin-like growth, vascular endothelial growth and keratinocyte growth. With these essential proteins and regenerative cells, PRP can restore damaged tissue. 

After the PRP process is explained, patients commonly ask “is PRP for hair loss painful?” The procedure typically consists of 20-30 tiny “pokes” and is performed under local anesthesia to help alleviate pain at the injection site, especially as the scalp can be one of the more sensitive areas of the body. Mild discomfort should be anticipated with tenderness and swelling to subside within 3 to 5 days, with no need for recovery time. The scalp may continue to be sensitive for weeks or even months, especially if multiple treatments are needed. Most patients require a total of 3 treatments in 5-to-6-week intervals. The treatment is quick, relatively painless, and imposes little to no risk or adverse reaction. 

If you are interested in how PRP for hair loss can benefit you, THE CENTER for Advanced Dermatology specializes in the most advanced options for hair restoration and hair loss treatment. Hair loss can be reversed with treatments offered by our board-certified dermatologists. Give our office a call today at 602-867-7546 to see if you are a candidate for PRP treatment. To learn more about PRP and other services we offer, visit WEBSITE.