Tracing the root cause of hair loss will lead you to learn about many sources. On average, a person sheds 80 strands of hair daily. However, if you think you’re losing hair at an alarming rate or visible patches of hair loss begin to form in your head, you might need professional help. As a combined healthcare and aesthetic clinic, we can combine medication and aesthetic measures to help with hair loss, such as the PRP hair restoration procedure.
PRP THERAPY OVERVIEW
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are gaining popularity for a variety of conditions, from sports injuries to hair loss. The treatment uses the patient’s own blood cells to accelerate healing in a specific area.
Platelet-rich plasma consists of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets are well-known for their clotting abilities, but they also contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal.
HOW DO HORMONES AFFECT HAIR?
Estrogen: It stimulates the growth of new hair and prolongs the growth phase of the hair. When women experience significant thinning of their hair, it usually occurs during menopause and when female hormones such as PCOS are low and androgens are elevated.
Progesterone: This hormone helps keep hair thick and full by counteracting or inhibiting the action of 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT, a potent form of testosterone, is also behind male pattern baldness.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT): This hormone is responsible for thinning and hair loss.
Hair loss is an inevitable part of the aging process. Hormonal imbalances, certain health conditions, and certain medications can also cause thinning or loss of hair. Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is believed to be an effective solution for hair loss. This non-surgical hair restoration treatment helps stimulate hair growth in both men and women. Platelets in the blood contain growth factors that are responsible for the body’s repair processes. These growth factors can also help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth, which also results in thicker, healthier hair.
WHAT CAUSES HAIR LOSS IN MEN AND WOMEN?
While men are more prone to hair loss than women, many women suffer from premature hair loss. Causes can range from nutritional deficiencies to more serious underlying health conditions. Treatment depends largely on the cause of the hair loss and its severity. Most of the time, hair loss can be curbed as long as the underlying cause is treated. For example, the physical burden of surgery, trauma, or illness can lead to temporary hair loss. Once the stress stops, hair loss usually stops along with it.
Hormonal problems, such as imbalances, are a common cause of hair loss. In some cases, such as pregnancy, the hair loss is temporary and the hormones adjust automatically after the baby is born. Among other causes, chronic hormonal problems can lead to persistent hair loss. Elevated androgens, insulin problems, and fluctuating thyroid levels can also cause hair loss. If you think your hair loss is related to hormonal issues, get tested early to determine the main cause.
Many people take hair growth for granted until it starts to fall out, which then gradually affects our self-esteem and self-confidence. While you can’t prevent hair loss or thinning every day, you can help reverse it with the right treatment regimen. Platelet-rich plasma therapy has yielded excellent results in clinical studies, with many examples of natural growth demonstrating its efficacy.
IS PRP TREATMENT EFFECTIVE FOR HAIR LOSS?
Simply put, it works most of the time. Effects will also vary from patient to patient, and not everyone will get the results they expect. However, preliminary PRP studies do show that most patients will respond to PRP therapy, especially when it is routinely administered every 3 to 4 months. However, preliminary PRP studies do show that most patients will respond to PRP therapy, especially when it is routinely administered, usually it takes 3 courses and although some patients can see the result even after 1 treatment, some might need maintenance every 6 months.
PRP THERAPY PROCESS
PRP therapy is a three-step process. Most PRP therapy requires three treatments 4–6 weeks apart.
Maintenance treatments are required every 4–6 months.
- Step 1
Your blood is drawn — typically from your arm — and put into a centrifuge (a machine that spins rapidly to separate fluids of different densities). - Step 2
After about 10 minutes in the centrifuge, your blood will have separated into three layers:- Platelet-poor plasma
- Platelet-rich plasma
- Red blood cells
- Step 3
The platelet-rich plasma is drawn up into a syringe and then injected into areas of the scalp that need increased hair growth.