Miniaturized hair is a hallmark of androgenetic alopecia that’s a telltale sign of impending baldness. When all of the follicular units have been miniaturized, baldness will then become visible. It’s thus a good idea to reverse miniaturized hair before it becomes too late and baldness has proceeded.
So will PRP reverse miniaturized hair? Yes, platelet-rich plasma therapy is capable of reversing miniaturized hair through the improvements in hair growth that it can bring. Mechanisms of hair growth from PRP include better blood flow, regulation of anti-apoptotic mediators, and prolongation of the anagen phase or growth phase of the hair growth cycle.
How PRP Reverses Miniaturized Hair
Platelet-rich plasma is an innovative hair loss therapy developed under regenerative medicine which is an effective treatment for many stages of miniaturization without the need for surgical hair restoration. Miniaturized follicles that become dormant hair are helped reactivated by PRP through the growth factors released by platelets concentrated in the formulation, which play a key role in how PRP works.
These growth factors, which include the platelet-derived growth factor and the vascular endothelial growth factor, generally work by promoting cell division, growth, and proliferation. Many of them also promote a better blood supply to the scalp, which is important in the growth of hair follicles because it’s a way to provide more nutrients and oxygen necessary for optimal growth.
PRP as a treatment for hair loss is also capable of regulating anti-apoptotic (or anti-programmed cell death) mediators to prevent the premature death of hair follicles. It’s also capable of prolonging the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.
How PRP is Obtained and Administered
The way to obtain and administer the platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for hair restoration is yet to be standardized, especially because of the status of PRP as experimental. However, they can still be generalized based on the 3 steps which are similar across different specificities done for this procedure, which include the following:
- Blood Extraction – A blood draw is done on the patient’s vein using equipment like a syringe filled with an anticoagulant.
- Processing of Blood – Upon collection of the blood sample, processing of blood will then be done via centrifugation. This is to separate platelets from the other blood components so as to concentrate them.
- Administration of PRP – Upon centrifugation, PRP will then be administered via equally spaced injections on the scalp, which may be done intradermally or subcutaneously.
Safety of PRP
Platelet-rich plasma is a safe formulation with minimal downtime, owing to the fact that it’s taken from the patient’s own blood components and is minimally invasive. Its side effects are mild and resolve on their own or may be managed through home remedies. Medical professionals who perform the procedure also do certain techniques to make the procedure as comfortable as possible.
Side Effects
Platelet-rich plasma is a safe formulation because it’s taken from the patient’s own blood, thereby eliminating the risks associated with the administration of foreign entities to the human body, like communicable diseases and allergic reactions.
Minimal side effects associated with the procedure are dependent on the way of administration and the skill of the one administering it, rather than on the formulation itself. These side effects include the following:
- Injection Site Reactions – Injection site reactions are side effects associated with scalp injections and not necessarily on the formulation (although if it’s due to the formulation, it’s indicative of the inflammatory reaction promoted by the PRP). Injection site reactions encompass side effects namely pain, redness, and swelling on the site of injection.
- Nerve or Tissue Injury – Nerve or tissue injury is a rare side effect of PRP administration which is heavily dependent on the skill of the one administering the procedure. This may be avoided by going to trusted providers with known skills and qualifications to do the job.
- Infection – Infection is another rare complication that is associated with whether or not aseptic procedures are observed during the whole preparation and administration of PRP.
- No Response – Although not really a side effect, some patients may not observe any response from the procedure. This may be attributed to the lack of standardization of the procedure and the optimal dose that’s yet to be determined.
Comfort
Those who perform platelet-rich plasma injections make sure that the procedure is as comfortable as possible by employing these techniques:
- Administration of Topical or Injected Anesthetics – Topical or injected anesthetics may be used before the procedure itself is done to numb the area where the PRP injections are to be administered. However, care must be employed in doing so as there are some who are allergic to the anesthetics that may be used.
- Vibration Equipment – Vibration techniques may also be employed to numb the area where the PRP injections are to be administered. This is because the vibration equipment helps massage the area and distribute the fluid evenly.
- Using Very Fine Needles – The use of very fine needles, typically 31G, is also employed to maximize comfort. This is so that the needle pricks are almost not felt by the patient.
- Ice Packs – Ice packs may be given to numb the injection sites. They may also be used to minimize pain, bruising, and swelling associated with the procedure.
Who are the Right Candidates?
The right candidates for platelet-rich plasma are those who are willing to undergo the procedure to address their hair loss issues. However, it should still be noted that PRP isn’t for everyone and that there are those with coexisting medical conditions that can’t undergo the procedure despite their willingness to proceed. People with the following medical conditions must avoid undergoing PRP:
- Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
- Clotting Disorders
- Active or chronic infections
- Sepsis
- Use of blood thinners that can’t be stopped even for a short period of time
- Cancer
- Severe Liver Disease
- Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
PEP Factor: An Excellent Hair Care Formulation
Aside from platelet-rich plasma, another excellent way to approach hair loss is the PEP Factor, an all-natural, nourishing hair care formulation that can help improve the appearance of the thinning of hair in a variety of hair loss conditions like androgenic alopecia.
It may be used as an alternative or in combination with platelet-rich plasma in improving the hair density in any form of hair loss with minimal side effects due to its natural ingredients and topical application.
The active ingredients of the PEP Factor include the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) which is capable of promoting cell growth and proliferation, much like the growth factors present in platelet-rich plasma.
Another notable active ingredient of the PEP Factor is the copper peptide, which has antioxidant properties which can help prevent the occurrence of oxidative stress-related hair loss which can further aggravate hair loss.
Best Medical Products and More at FACE Med Store
A patient’s platelet-rich plasma can help prevent visible baldness from occurring by targeting even the miniaturized hair, the hallmark of pattern baldness. It can help reverse miniaturized hair through the mechanisms provided by the concentration of growth factors present in the formulation.
At FACE Med Store, we can help our clients’ patients achieve healthy hair growth through the best medical products and formulations we provide for hair restoration. We also have friendly customer service that can help you choose what product best fits your patients’ hair care needs. Contact us today at info@facemedstore.com and let us answer any queries you have in mind.
