Potential PRP Hair Treatment Side Effects

What is PRP Hair Treatment?

PRP was first developed in the 1970s and has since then been used for various medical applications for years. PRP involves having your blood drawn as though you were getting lab tests performed. The blood is then treated with a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the plasma. Plasma is the portion of your own blood that contains a high platelet concentration. Platelets stops bleeding by clotting and clumping the blood. Doctors then separate the plasma along with the platelets and activates the platelets. The Doctor then injects the serum into the area of your body that is being treated. Doctors have been using this technique for years to stimulate wound healing and improve the appearance of skin.

Recently, researchers have found that PRP can also help stimulate hair growth. Evidence from different studies has supported the idea that PRP is a positive new form of hair growth treatment. So how does PRP work? The growth factors that are released from the activated platelets stimulate cells in your hair follicle to grow. This is great for inactive or implanted hair follicles..

Potential PRP Side Effects

You should not have a reaction to PRP because it uses your own blood. Studies have shown that PRP has been found to have a good effect on male and female pattern hair loss without major side effects. You may experience minimal pain, pinpoint bleeding, and redness when the injections are being delivered. Some patients often complain about a “full” or “tight” feeling in their scalp immediately after injections. This can last up to 1 day. Rarely, some patients will complain of a mild headache the next day.

Who Shouldn’t Get PRP Treatment for Hair Loss

Though major side effects have not been found in prospective patients, not everyone is suitable for PRP therapy. If you have a history of heavy drug, alcohol and smoking, you should not receive PRP hair treatment. You may also not qualify for PRP treatment if you have been diagnosed with any of the following treatments:

• Cancer
• Sepsis
• Chronic skin disease
• Metabolic disorder
• Systemic disorder
• Chronic liver disease
• Hemodynamic instability
• Platelet dysfunction syndromes
• Thrombocytopenia
• Acute and chronic infections
• Hypofibrinogenemia

PRP may be a great hair growth solution for you if you’re not ready for surgery yet or can’t undergo a hair transplant. If you’d like to learn whether PRP would be a good option for you, feel free to contact us today!