How Your Own Blood Can Help You Grow More Hair
May 15, 2024
There it is again–more hair on your comb. You’re too young for all this hair loss. Although you’re not surprised because after all, your dad was bald by the time he was 30. But you don’t wanna accept that fate for yourself.
It’s 2024 and there’s gotta be a way to grow more hair without slathering burning cream on your head every day. And does that stuff even work?
The most common form of hair loss is called Androgenetic alopecia. It’s genetic, affects both men and women, and about half the population. The science behind this unfortunate occurrence involves the hair follicle’s sensitivity to the hormone testosterone.¹ This causes quite a short lifespan for the hair growth cycle, resulting in thinning hair and ultimately balding.
Men typically exhibit male pattern balding on the top and back of the head, and women more thinning.
The good news is, there is a very scientifically proven way to grow more hair. And being that you need to see a provider for this, you know it’s gotta work. It’s called Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP injections. PRP contains growth factors and cytokines.
Not only do these natural formations in platelets accelerate wound healing, but they have been found to stimulate natural hair growth as well.
The process involves your provider taking a blood sample from you. The sample is then spun down and it separates into 3 layers– red blood cells, PRP (platelet rich plasma), and PPP (platelet poor plasma).
An anticoagulant such as acid citrate dextrose or sodium citrate is added to prevent clotting. Calcium gluconate, calcium chloride, or thrombin is then added to induce growth factors and “activate” the plasma.²
Are you a good candidate for hair regrowth treatment?
Hey, I’m Amy, your neighborhood expert on PRP treatment. Having a skilled provider like me, you don’t need to wonder if your procedure is being done right. Below I’ll walk you through the steps you can take to make sure that PRP is right for you.
Like most other cosmetic procedures, it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re in good health before you come in for a treatment. You need to have a blood test done prior to make sure your platelet count is high enough. If it’s too low, you will not achieve the results you’re looking for.
There are ways you can prepare your body for PRP treatments. Several months prior, it’s always a good idea to get your body ready and be aware of things that could affect your results, like poor health and low platelet count. Here’s how you can prepare:
Have your provider perform a physical exam to make sure you’re in good health.
Has it been awhile since you’ve been to the doctor? Or maybe you’ve had an ailment that’s been bothering you for a long time and have been thinking about getting it checked out. Now would be the perfect time to see your doctor. Being in good health is an important part of seeing the results you want with PRP.
If you suffer from certain conditions, you may not be a candidate for PRP. These conditions include:
Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
Platelet dysfunction
Sepsis
Hemodynamic instability
Infection near scalp
NSAID use within 48 hours
Certain cancers²
We can discuss any concerns you may have during a consultation if you haven’t already discussed them with your doctor.
Medications you take may affect results
Medications that affect your blood may disqualify you as a candidate for PRP. These meds can be Warfarin, Aspirin, Heparin, Chemotherapy drugs and NSAIDs like Ibuprofen. Even certain antibiotics and SSRI’s can affect your platelets.
We can discuss this to see if the medications you are taking are an issue.
Eat a healthy diet
Although studies have shown that eating a diet high in Polyunsaturated fats can have lasting health benefits, diets like these can also lower your platelet count.³ The Mediterranean diet is an example of a heart-healthy diet that decreases your risk for heart disease by decreasing the chance of a blood clot getting trapped in one of your blood vessels surrounding your heart.
You may be wondering why on earth would I wanna lower my platelet count if I want more hair growth from PRP?
The answer is simple. If you’re in poor health, eat a lot of saturated fats, smoke and have a higher platelet count, you could be setting yourself up for a heart attack. In that case, what is more hair growth going to do for you?
First and foremost, I want you to be healthy. Here’s the thing, if you enjoy a healthy diet, exercise and drink lots of water, your platelet count may still be perfect for this treatment. So go ahead and take care of yourself.
Understand which type of hair loss you suffer from
In addition to stimulating new hair growth in those with Androgenetic Alopecia, PRP also works for those with Female pattern hair loss, Alopecia Areata and Cicatricial Alopecia. People who have had hair transplants can also benefit.²
We covered Androgenetic Alopecia above, but let’s break down what the other conditions entail:
Female pattern hair loss is most common in middle-age women and causes thinning of hair. Genetics, hormones and environmental factors may play a part in it.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that can affect both males and females. It can cause temporary, but sometimes chronic hair loss
Cicatricial Alopecia can be caused by inflammatory conditions such as physical trauma, burns, or severe infections affecting the hair follicles. This condition may not always respond to PRP treatment due to the permanent scarring. There are, however, variants of the condition that do respond in certain individuals.
But the proof is in the pudding. Randomized Controlled Trials were conducted in both men and women with all of the above types of hair loss. Trial participants were broken down into groups and there were over 1000 people in the studies.
Out of all those participants, most saw significant improvement in hair regrowth and thickness compared to a placebo.²
The good news is that this procedure is relatively safe because I use your OWN plasma. Side effects are generally mild and may include:
Mild headache
Temporary pain during injections
Minimal itching
Mild bruising and swelling at site of injection
Are You Ready To See More Hair Growth and Feel Confident?
If you’re ready to take your hair growth to the next level, book a session with me. And hey, did I mention PRP treatments work for under-eye concerns like puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles?
And PRP also helps with scarring! It reduces the appearance of the scar and can prevent keloids from forming.
Platelet rich plasma helps bring blood flow to these target areas and can do wonders. Are you on the fence and still not sure if this treatment is right for you? Book a consultation with me and we’ll talk about it together and see if it’s the right option for you. You don’t have to know all the answers.
I offer same-day treatments when available as well for those of you on a tight, last-minute schedule. Come see me in my relaxing office in beautiful downtown LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Take a stroll through downtown LaCrosse while you’re in town–there’s an abundance of nice restaurants and shopping galore. Make it a day for yourself.
Disclaimer: Since this is a product of your own blood, Platelet rich plasma has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.
Sources:
[1] A comprehensive review of platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of dermatologic disorders
[2] Platelet Rich Plasma and Its Use in Hair Regrowth: A Review
[3] The Anti-Aggregative Potential of Resolvin E1 on Human Platelets