Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a treatment that utilizes components of a patient’s own blood to promote healing and encourage hair growth in conditions such as androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male or female pattern baldness. PRP therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets, which contain growth factors, into the scalp to stimulate hair follicles. However, the effectiveness of PRP therapy can be significantly diminished in individuals with high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

The efficacy of PRP therapy is highly variable and often inconsistent due to the differences in preparation methods. However, this process has no standardized procedure, leading to variations in platelet concentration and quality across different treatments.

DHT is a potent androgen, a hormone that plays a role in the development of male characteristics, and it is derived from testosterone via the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. In cases of androgenetic alopecia, elevated DHT levels bind to androgen receptors in hair follicles, particularly on the scalp, leading to the miniaturization of these follicles. This miniaturization shortens the anagen (growth) phase of hair, ultimately causing thinning and hair loss.

Other underlying issues in your blood, such as low Vitamin D3 or low Lysine (an amino acid largely responsible for protein synthesis), only compound the problem.

PRP Therapy for Hair Loss

PRP therapy tries to revitalize damaged follicles and foster a more favorable environment for hair growth by delivering growth factors that have restorative properties. However, the overactivity of DHT, vitamins, or amino acids counteracts these restoration efforts. When DHT levels remain high, its androgenic effects continue to exert negative pressure on hair follicles, potentially overpowering the positive effects induced by the growth factors in PRP. As a result, the hair follicles remain weakened, which limits the therapeutic benefits of PRP therapy (if any).

For PRP therapy to be more effective in these cases, it often needs to be combined with treatments that specifically target and reduce DHT, such as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors*.

In conclusion, while PRP therapy has potential benefits for treating androgenetic alopecia, but high levels of DHT will inhibit its effectiveness.

Rewind Trichology Hair Loss Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky, does not use PRP therapy or recommend it for hair regeneration. As the American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) says, the industry is littered with “snake oil” sales pitches and remedies that do not work.

Call Rewind Trichology Hair Loss Clinic to book at FREE consultation for Folix® followed by Rewind-6™ (with a money-back guarantee) at (859) 800-4771 or click here.

* The FDA has also noted that 5-ARIs may increase the risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer. This is why we use vitamin or herbal remedies at Rewind Trichology.

Sources:
– Dhurat, R., & Sukesh, M. S. Principles and methods of preparation of platelet-rich plasma: a review and author’s perspective. *Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery,* 4(3), 189.
– Ellis, J. A., et al. Androgenetic alopecia: Pathogenesis and potential for therapy. *Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine,* 3(22), 1-11.
– Ho, A., & Alam. Platelet-rich plasma in dermatology: A critical appraisal. *Dermatologic Surgery,* 45(2), 141-154.

• Additionally, placebo effects may play a role in perceived benefits. Patients who receive PRP therapy might experience improvements that are not necessarily due to the treatment itself but rather to psychological factors associated with receiving novel or promising therapies.