The health and wellness community has been in pursuit of wound healing and tissue repair through scientific research and innovative technologies. The cellular mechanisms driving the healing and repair are still poorly understood. The search for clinical strategies for improving the body’s natural repair mechanisms requires a thorough understanding of the basic biology of regeneration and repair.
It is in this context that PRP (platelet-rich plasma) has gained so much attention as an emerging concept in tissue regeneration and repair. PRP therapy is currently being used for treating a variety of conditions from muscle injuries to hair loss.
What is PRP therapy?
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy is a process where a person’s own blood that is concentrated with platelets, is used to enhance the healing process of tissue damage. The healing is accelerated due to the increased concentration of specific bio-proteins called growth factors.
In cosmetic dermatology, PRP can stimulate human dermal fibroblasts and enhance collagen synthesis. This is nothing but new tissue growth and overall cellular healing. This turns PRP therapy suitable for hair restoration in both men and women. It is considered that growth factors present in the platelets stimulate the stem cells to develop new follicles and promote neovascularization.
PRP therapy aims to prompt inactive or newly implanted hair follicles to have active growth and become stronger.
How does PRP therapy work?
Blood is drawn from your body and with the help of a centrifuge, separates the platelet-rich plasma from the blood. The plasma is extracted and prepared for administration in the area of your scalp and is injected.
Once the platelets enter the area that’s being treated, they break down and release growth factors triggering cell repair and development of new hair follicles.
Does PRP therapy have any side effects?
PRP therapy is a safe choice for many people as it does not cause allergy, hypersensitivity or immune reaction. It is safe and natural because it takes good cells from your body and injects it back to the area requiring healing, so there’s no chance of any blood infection from another human. PRP uses plasma that is not changed or modified and hence there is no rejection by your immune system.
While scientists and dermatologists are yet to establish PRP as an absolute cure for hair loss, it is clinically proven to be effective for hair regrowth and is FDA approved. Though medical data based on extensive clinical trials are still being compiled, the PRP therapy appears safe. However, there could be a bit of pain and swelling after the procedure which tend to disappear in a couple of days.
Who is an ideal candidate for PRP therapy for hair loss?
If you suffer from androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of alopecia in men and women, you could be the ideal candidate for PRP therapy for hair loss. The therapy works excellent on follicular units that are alive and can be revived. But individuals who have active scalp infection, diabetes, clotting disorder and who are on immunosuppressive drugs and blood-thinning medications are not candidates for this procedure.
Final Word
If you’re thinking about PRP therapy, you should consult a specialist or a professional clinic that has doctors who perform more cosmetic procedures than routine medical treatments. They will have the in-depth training and experience to evaluate your skin and suggest proven treatment methods that are most effective for you.
PRP therapy is safe, non-invasive, and uses your own blood plasma for hair regrowth that is natural with no downtime.
