Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2018 Jan;4(1):1-11.
doi: 10.1159/000477671. Epub 2017 Jun 24.

Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review of the Literature

Jessica Cervantes  1 , Marina Perper  1 , Lulu L Wong  1 , Ariel E Eber  1 , Alexandra C Villasante Fricke  2 , Tongyu Cao Wikramanayake  1 , Joaquin J Jimenez  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review of the Literature

Jessica Cervantes et al. Skin Appendage Disord. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a hair loss disorder affecting 80% of men and 50% of women throughout their lifetime. Therapies for AGA are limited and there is no cure. There is a high demand for hair restoration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a treatment modality shown to promote wound healing, has also been explored as a treatment for AGA. This literature review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of PRP treatment for AGA. Twelve studies conducted from 2011 to 2017 were evaluated and summarized by study characteristics, mode of preparation, and treatment protocols. A total of 295 subjects were given PRP or control treatment in these studies, and evaluated for terminal hair density, hair quality, anagen/telogen hair ratio, keratinocyte proliferation, blood vessel density, etc. Some studies also provided subject self-assessment reports. Most of the studies reviewed showed effectiveness of PRP in increasing terminal hair density/diameter. Additional investigations are needed to determine the optimal treatment regimen for high efficacy of PRP in AGA.

Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia; Androgenic alopecia; Growth factors; Hair disorder; Hair follicle; Hair growth; Platelet-rich plasma.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Piraccini BM, Alessandrini A. Androgenetic alopecia. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2014;149:15–24. - PubMed
    1. Varothai S, Bergfeld WF. Androgenetic alopecia: an evidence-based treatment update. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014;15:217–230. - PubMed
    1. Bae JM, Jung HM, Goo B, Park YM. Hair regrowth through wound healing process after ablative fractional laser treatment in a murine model. Lasers Surg Med. 2015;47:433–440. - PubMed
    1. Stefanato CM. Histopathology of alopecia: a clinicopathological approach to diagnosis. Histopathology. 2010;56:24–38. - PubMed
    1. Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male androgenetic alopecia. In: De Groot LJ, Chrousos G, Dungan K, et al., editors. Endotext. South Dartmouth: MDText; 2000.