Plasma treatment for baldness and hair loss

For several years, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has found application in different branches of medicine: orthopedics, aesthetic medicine, plastic surgery, dentistry, etc.
In the technological field, this blood-derived product is used to deal with various types of non-scarring alopecia. It exploits the action of growth factors obtained from the centrifugation of a limited amount of blood, following a simple withdrawal from the patient himself. The PRP for treating alopecia is inoculated in the thinned areas. It is thus supporting the regeneration of the pilosebaceous (non-atrophic) follicle and hair regrowth.

Hair loss and androgenetic alopecia

Finding a cure for baldness, preventing hair loss, or detecting the “magic wand” against thinning hair has long been challenging for researchers and doctors. The surgery provided the possibility to use the transplant and implant the hair or use the advanced surgical method FUE (Extraction of the follicular units), which is less aggressive because it does not use the scalp and does not leave scars. However, it is still an operation with all the risks and side effects.

PRGF treatment against baldness and alopecia

Since treatment with blood plasma has proved so effective, studies have been conducted on its application a few years ago, including its scalp. These studies have shown that blood plasma treatment works against male and female alopecia and simple baldness, even when it is a genetic condition. The method is the same as that used to rejuvenate the skin and has proven to be very effective in treating baldness and sparse hair. Milojevic Polyclinic is among the first in Europe to use this new method,

How does it work

The treatment is based on the concept that platelets, which Platelet Rich Plasma is rich in, release a wide range of mediators and other substances that promote tissue repair. These blood elements also influence other cells’ behavior, modulating inflammation and blood vessels’ new formation.

It should be remembered that platelets play a fundamental role in mediating the healing of damaged tissue in response to an injury of pathological or traumatic origin, mainly thanks to the action of growth factors capable of:

• Stimulate cell proliferation and maturation;
• Modulate inflammation;
• Activate other cells, regulating tissue homeostasis ;
• Promote wound healing and regenerative processes.

In the technological field, platelet growth factors promote the regeneration of “sleeping” pilosebaceous follicles (not atrophic), regulate their activity, and allow, in fact, better growth of the hair shafts. The result can be observed progressively in the months following the treatment, based on the scientific research published. There was a significant improvement in the hair average after 3-6 months.

PRP Hair: how it works

Platelets’ ability to modulate physiological processes, favoring cell replication, and forming a new extracellular matrix affects hair care: PRP infiltrations on the scalp allow for stimulating hair regrowth in mild or moderate cases of thinning.

The use of PRP for the treatment of alopecia is based on the possibility of concentrating the platelet content to accelerate the repair of tissues and the scalp and the appendages, such as the pilosebaceous follicles.

The procedure involves the infiltration of platelet-rich plasma in the affected area, followed by a massage to the scalp. The follicles react to the therapy with the growth of new hair and the increase in the diameter of the existing ones’ shafts.

Both women and men suffer from this problem.

Although medicine says that hair loss is a normal physiological phenomenon for both men and women, many perceive it as a disorder that negatively affects both sexes’ quality of life. Of course, research has shown that women are more susceptible to intense hair loss. It is a relatively common disorder, affecting around 50% of men and slightly fewer women over 40 years of age. Hair thinning in men (and androgenetic alopecia) is mainly a characteristic of the male sex and is usually a genetic condition. Hair thinning in women has the same origin, but a somewhat different clinical picture. However, for both men and women, hair loss and hair thinning are characterized by a progressive decrease in the hair growth cycle and by the reduction of hair follicles, i.e., gradual degradation of the follicles. In addition to hair loss as a genetic condition and a physiological condition, seasonal hair loss, iron deficiency, thyroid disorder, or certain medications can be the most common causes. Until now, the treatment method was the local application of Minoxidil, an active drug on 30% of patients, but with not negligible side effects such as irritation, folliculitis, and possibly an increase in hairiness in other parts of the face and body. While Finasterid tablets are even less famous, due to a frequent side effect, i.e., loss of libido.

The safe and effective solution against baldness

For all these reasons, patients are looking for a treatment with minimal risk and do not cause side effects. And that’s precisely what plasma treatment offers. The blood of your patient is centrifuged to separate the plasma, rich in thrombocytes (platelets). It is then injected into the scalp, where the platelets release the growth factors which, as we know, stimulate the proliferation of stem cells and prolong the hair growth phase. After the treatment, the hair is thicker, thicker, and of better quality. Research has shown that the number of follicular units increases, which is real proof of the effectiveness of the treatment. For men, the treatment is more indicated in the initial phase of hair loss. For women, it is suitable for all stages. It is necessary to carry out three plasma treatments with an interval of 3 weeks for optimal results.

Also, scalp mesotherapy can be combined. These are injections into the scalp, a cocktail of vitamins that stimulate hair growth. Vitamin B and hyaluronic acid are part of it, so it is ideal for treating hair loss, dry and damaged lifeless hair, and hair with persistent dandruff. The treatment should be done every 7-10 days, and ten injections are needed to get the best results.