Thinning hair and balding, affects old and young, male and female. At FoRM we have successfully used Platelet Rich Plasma injections to address thinning hair for a variety of conditions . Here’s a review of the most common causes of thinning hair. Fortunately we have seen PRP work for all of them!
1. Androgenetic Alopecia- otherwise known as male pattern baldness. This is the most common cause of hair loss and balding. Though it typically manifests in males in their 4th decade, androgenetic alopecia can occur as early as late teen years/ early twenties and affects women as well. This genetically influenced hair condition, results in higher levels of a super potent form of testosterone, known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT targets hair follicles, which eventually become inactive. Hair loss of this nature typically effects the frontal hairline, initially causing recession, and/or the crown of head. PRP works great for this type of hair loss, though we treat the underlying hormonal issue as well, for longer lasting results.
2. Telogen Effluvium- typically considered to be stress-induced hair loss. Sudden, diffuse shedding throughout the scalp begins weeks to months following a stressful period. Stressors often include mental and emotional stress, but can also include nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency, which the body perceives as stress. Though the shedding may resolve within months to a year, return to full thickness does not always happen. PRP is an excellent solution for this scenario. PRP can help activate dormant follicles, resulting in more hairs per given area, as well as thicken existing hairs, helping return hair to previous luster.
3. Alopecia Areata- is an autoimmune condition, in which one’s own immune system attacks hair follicles, stopping growth of hair. This autoimmune disease can be triggered by stress and is associated with other autoimmune conditions. Effecting both men and women, alopecia areata, manifests as well-defined patches of hair loss through the scalp. Beyond triggering the growth of new hair within the follicle, PRP is also thought to normalize the immune response around the hair follicles, blunting the over-active immune system’s attack. This can be a stubborn and frustrating condition, involving relapsing and cyclical hair loss and growth, more PRP treatments are often necessary in this scenario.
4. Other hormone imbalances- Thyroid dysfunction and menopause are common causes of hair loss in women (& men with hypothyroidism). Hormonal imbalances general cause diffuse thinning hair throughout the scalp, as well as other parts of the body, most notably the eyebrows. Identifying and correcting the underlying imbalance is imperative to resolving the hair loss. In these cases, PRP is used to help halt the progression of hair loss, as well as return the hair to its previous healthy state as the hormone balancing takes effect.
Studies evaluating PRP have consistently shown it to be a safe and effective solution for many causes of hair loss. Treatments are performed monthly, with treatment time typically less than 1 hour. There is with no down-time and very few, if any, adverse effects. If hair loss is a problem for you, get to the bottom of it now! PRP is most effective when utilized as early as possible in the progression of hair loss.
Interested in learning more about PRP?…check out these studies below:
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/477671
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5655625/
https://journals.lww.com/dermatologicsurgery/Abstract/2018/09000/Evaluating_the_Efficacy_of_Different_Platelet_Rich.5.aspx
