It is normal to lose 50 to100 hairs per day. Hair sheds and regrows. However, excessive hair loss can cause severe stress in both men and women. Hair loss is often gradual and can happen for years before we really notice the effects. You may notice a gradual thinning, a receding hair line, a thinner ponytail or a slowly growing bald spot. There are several reasons that can contribute to hair loss, such as genetic influences that affects both men and women, age, hormonal changes, hormonal disorders, major life stresses, exposure to heavy metals, dietary deficiencies, hairstyles that traction the hair, post-covid infections or medications. The list of potential causes is extensive. The good news is that in many of these situation’s regrowth is possible.
To determine the underlying causes of hair loss a thorough health history is essential. From there, our naturopathic doctors can suggest appropriate testing to uncover any potential modifiable issues. Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids both orally and intravenously can be very helpful to aid in the regrowth. Addressing underlying issues may help not only with hair regrowth but also general health and wellness.
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been shown in several studies to be a safe and effective treatment for hair regrowth. Platelets promote cell growth and regeneration through the release of various growth factors. These growth factors stimulate specialized cells called dermal papilla cells, which play a critical role in hair growth.
PRP involves removing a small amount of your blood and spinning it down with a special centrifuge to concentrate the growth factors, then injecting it back into the area of hair loss. This process concentrates the platelets 5 times more than in blood. Most patients will need a series of 3 treatments set a month apart. Some patients will require follow up maintenance treatment’s once every 6 months. Several studies have demonstrated significant improvement with an increase in the density of hair and thickness.
Minimal side effects may be experienced by some patients such as mild pain during the treatment, transient headache, redness, itching and swelling in the treated area.
References:
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/fall-out
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4622412/
https://www.dovepress.com/platelet-rich-plasma-and-its-use-in-hair-regrowth-a-review-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDT
