Plasma therapy for hair: how PRP works for hair loss, who it suits and when to expect results

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is plasma from your own blood with a high concentration of platelets. Blood is taken from a vein and separated in a centrifuge, and the platelet concentrate is injected in micro-doses into the scalp where the hair is thinning.

This article is only about hair and the scalp. How plasma works on the face is covered in our article on PRP therapy for the face.

How plasma acts on the follicle

Platelets are not only about blood clotting. Their granules store growth factors: platelet-derived (PDGF), vascular endothelial (VEGF), transforming (TGF-beta), insulin-like (IGF-1) and others. According to research, they act on the dermal papilla cells and follicle stem cells that control hair growth:

• they extend the growth phase. In a 2012 laboratory study, activated plasma boosted dermal papilla cell division and sped up the transition of follicles from the resting phase to the growth phase in mice;
• they improve nourishment of the hair bulb. After a course, biopsies showed more small blood vessels around the follicles;
• they slow down thinning. In androgenetic alopecia the follicle gradually "shrinks" and produces ever thinner hair; according to clinical studies, plasma helps some follicles produce thicker hair again.

What studies in people have shown. In a 2015 randomised study, plasma was injected into one half of the scalp and placebo into the other, three sessions 30 days apart. In the 20 men who completed the course, the treated side gained an average of 33.6 hairs in the target area, and density rose by 45.9 hairs per square centimetre compared with baseline. A 2016 double-blind study of 25 participants confirmed a gain in density compared with the placebo side. A 2022 meta-analysis pooled 30 studies (687 participants) and concluded that PRP increases hair density and thickness in men and women with androgenetic alopecia.

An important caveat: there is no single standard for preparing plasma, studies differ in method, and results vary from person to person.

• Early-stage androgenetic alopecia in men (receding hairline, thinning crown) and in women (widening parting). The more living, if thinned, follicles there are, the better the chance of a result.
• Diffuse hair loss, when hair thins evenly over the whole head.
• Hair loss after childbirth and hormonal changes, once breastfeeding is over and with your doctor's approval.
• Hair loss after stress, illness, high fever or a strict diet. This kind of shedding often stops on its own once the cause is removed, so plasma is considered as support if recovery is taking too long.

Who it does not suit

• scarring alopecia: there are no follicles in scar tissue, so there is nothing to stimulate;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding: there is little safety data, so any decision is made only with your doctor's approval;
• blood disorders, low platelet count, clotting disorders;
• anticoagulants and blood-thinning medication: only with the approval of your treating doctor, never stop them on your own;
• inflammation or infection of the scalp, an acute illness or fever on the day of the procedure;
• cancer and chemotherapy: only on the decision of an oncologist.

Why we start with a trichologist and blood tests

Plasma will not fix the cause if it lies inside the body. Hair loss is often linked to iron deficiency, thyroid problems, lack of vitamin D or hormonal changes. Until a deficiency is corrected, no scalp treatment will give a lasting effect.

That is why the first step at SOLAR is a trichologist consultation - 200 AED. The trichologist examines the scalp under magnification (trichoscopy) and assesses density, hair diameter and signs of miniaturisation. We described how this examination works in our article on scalp diagnostics and HELEO4.

Then, if needed, blood tests are done: a basic or advanced panel (Hair Loss Profile Basic and Advanced). These tests look for the most common internal causes of hair loss, first of all iron stores, thyroid function and vitamin D; the trichologist will explain what each option includes at the consultation. If hair loss started after childbirth, tests are especially important: iron deficiency and temporary thyroid changes are both common at this time. For mothers we also have dedicated programmes for mums-to-be and new mums.

1. Preparation. For a few days before the session, avoid NSAID painkillers and aspirin unless your doctor has approved them, and skip alcohol the day before. On the day, eat beforehand and come with clean hair without styling products.
2. Blood draw. A small amount of blood is taken from a vein, about as much as for a routine test.
3. Centrifuge. The blood is separated to obtain plasma with a platelet concentrate.
4. Injections. The doctor disinfects the scalp and injects the plasma in micro-doses into the thinning areas. The sensations are tolerable; cooling or an anaesthetic cream is used for comfort.
5. After the session. Mild tenderness and redness pass within 1-2 days. Wash your hair the next day; postpone sport, sauna, pool, sea and direct sun for a couple of days.

The whole visit usually takes about an hour. Because your own blood is used, an allergic reaction to the plasma is unlikely.

The course and when to expect results

The typical scheme suggested by professional societies and research reviews is 3-4 sessions once a month, followed by a maintenance session every 3-6 months. The exact number of sessions depends on the stage and cause of hair loss.

Why results are not visible after a week: hair grows in cycles. The growth phase lasts years, the resting phase about three months, and a new hair still has to grow to a noticeable length. Usually shedding decreases first, and the gain in density is assessed after 3-6 months. For an honest assessment, the trichologist compares trichoscopy and photos before and after the course.

• HELEO4 LED therapy for the scalp. Red light has been studied in androgenetic alopecia and supports the growth phase, while the photodynamic effect helps with oily, inflamed skin. More on the HELEO4 page.
• DERMADROP HAIR COMPLEX. Needle-free delivery of serums with peptides and vitamins to the follicles by a jet of oxygen. Suits the time between PRP sessions and anyone who does not tolerate needles well.
• Scalp peeling. Clears the follicle openings of sebum, dead cells and hard water deposits.
• Philip Martin's anti hair loss treatments as part of our hair care services: support for the scalp and lengths between procedures.

The specialist decides the order and intervals for combining treatments after an examination.

What to choose: a guide by situation

Dubai residents have local causes of hair loss on top of the usual ones. Hard desalinated water leaves mineral deposits on the scalp, air conditioning dries it all year round, and summer sun and heat push more follicles into the resting phase. According to research, the share of hairs in the resting phase peaks in summer, and the hair itself falls out a few months later, which is why many people notice peak shedding in October and November. Add vitamin D deficiency, which is common in the UAE despite the sun.

The practical takeaway: autumn is a good time to get checked and start a course. After a plasma therapy session, skip the beach, pool and workouts in the heat for a couple of days and wear a hat in the sun.

Honestly about the limitations

• Plasma will not bring hair back to completely bald areas: if the follicles have died, there is nothing to stimulate.
• It is not a one-off procedure. Androgenetic alopecia continues, and without maintenance sessions the effect fades over time: in the 2015 study, some participants saw hair loss return 12-16 months after the course.
• Results are individual and depend on the stage, age, cause of hair loss and whether deficiencies have been corrected.
• PRP does not replace treatment prescribed by a doctor and often goes alongside it.

The cost of a course depends on the area and number of sessions and is confirmed at consultation.