Another potential treatment for alopecia areata is PRP, which uses your own blood to stimulate hair regrowth. The blood is put in a centrifuge, and the platelets are separated from the plasma. Then, the platelet-rich solution is injected into the treatment area. A case study found that the treatment was safe and could lead to substantial hair regrowth.
“PRP has concentrated blood plasma, which contains platelet-derived growth factors and proteins,” says Green. “PRP contains up to five times more platelets than normal blood. Restoring the health of the hair follicles can reverse hair loss.”
PRP is not formally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and even though research confirms PRP may be a safe and effective treatment measure for alopecia areata, there are no specific recommendations to date. Also, this method may work best when combined with other treatments.
“It’s a very serious option for patients who are resistant to minoxidil and steroid therapy,” says Ken Williams, Jr., DO, a surgeon and the founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, California. It’s more expensive, so you don’t jump to it as a first treatment.” He usually administers it as four treatments over nine months.
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