Thinning hair can cause you to become more self-conscious about your appearance. Pattern baldness is common in both men and women, usually becoming noticeable after age 35. The causes of thinning hair are many, but in most cases, aging follicles are to blame. Follicles can become clogged just as any skin pore can. Over time, the follicle becomes rather inactive, and the strands produced are thinner.
Once a follicle is dead, you can’t revive it. However, you can use an all-natural substance to stimulate the production of hair cells in a partially inactive follicle. The substance is your own blood. We highly recommend platelet rich plasma, or PRP, as a natural means to grow thicker, fuller hair.
Why Use Blood Platelets?
Blood contains special compounds that form meshes when exposed to oxygen. This is how blood clotting occurs. Platelets also contain growth factors that aid in the healing of a cut or scrape. These growth factors, combined with proteins, can actually encourage the growth of healthy skin tissue as well as the reactivation of hair follicles.
This cosmetic procedure appeals to those who do not like the idea of chemical treatments. The platelets used are from the client’s own blood, meaning there is no chance of contamination or side effects.
How the Treatment Works
We first consult with the client and examine the scalp closely. If we determine that hair thinning is due to follicle damage or follicle inactivity, we may suggest platelet rich plasma as a viable treatment.
We spin down a small amount of blood taken from the client. In the centrifuge, the platelets and plasma are separated from the red and white cells. We then draw out some of the plasma, now highly concentrated in platelets, and add some proteins. The platelet rich plasma is then injected just beneath the skin where the problem of thinning hair is occurring.
In some cases, we combine PRP treatment with micro-needling. Micro-needling involves the creation of tiny channel wounds on the scalp. The PRP is then rubbed onto the surface or injected with a thin needle.
After Treatment
A typical treatment session lasts about one hour. If a larger area of the scalp needs to be treated, we may schedule two or more sessions. Depending on the severity of the problem, we may treat the same area more than once.
After the treatment is completed, the affected area is treated by the body as an injury site. The nutrients sent to the area by the bloodstream come into contact with the concentrated platelets. Over the next few weeks, most clients notice fuzzy hair growth where a bald patch once existed.
The full growth period can take as long as six months. However, during this period of time, clients need not undergo any sort of post-treatment regimen other than normal hair care.
Are You a Candidate for PRP?
This form of hair restoration is becoming more and more popular because it is non-surgical and doesn’t involve actual follicle implantation. Contact us today at Metro Dermatology to get more information and to schedule your own one-on-one consultation with our dermatologist.
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