PRP for hair loss: what platelet-rich plasma is, the evidence and what to know

Platelet-rich plasma is a preparation made from your own blood. A sample is taken from a vein, spun in a centrifuge to separate the components, and the portion that is rich in platelets is drawn off. Platelets are best known for their role in clotting, but they also carry growth factors, which is the rationale for using them in hair loss. The BAD leaflet describes the treatment as taking a small amount of blood and then injecting the plasma into the area of scalp with hair loss.

In the published clinic study, 15 cc of whole blood was spun for five minutes and the resulting 5 to 6 cc of PRP was injected into the scalp. Most of the 56 patients had a series of three injections at monthly intervals, with a few receiving four to eight. That gives a practical idea of the schedule used in one clinic, although protocols vary and there is no single agreed method for preparing or giving PRP.

The most authoritative UK statement comes from the BAD patient leaflet on female pattern hair loss: PRP is not offered under the NHS and can be sought privately, and the research is too limited to help understand when and how the treatment might work. The leaflet makes no claim that it does or does not work, and that is a fair summary of where the evidence stands: it is uncertain.

Individual studies are more positive. In the 56-patient clinic study published in a peer-reviewed journal, the average patient satisfaction was 7.29 out of 10 and the clinician rating was 6.46. Patients rated improvement in hair density in 64% of cases, with clinicians rating it at 46%. These are subjective ratings recorded after treatment, and the study did not compare PRP with a placebo injection or another treatment. Satisfaction in the absence of a comparison group can reflect the natural fluctuation of hair, the effect of expectation or other treatments used at the same time. The authors themselves call the results encouraging rather than definitive.

Methods differ between studies in the amount of blood taken, the spin speed, the number of sessions and the interval between them. This makes it difficult to combine results, and it is one reason guideline bodies are cautious. The study cited here was carried out outside the UK, and no UK-specific trial data were used for this page.

The NHS says that most hair loss does not need treatment and is either temporary and will grow back, or is a normal part of getting older. For male pattern baldness it names finasteride and minoxidil as the main treatments, with minoxidil also usable for female pattern baldness and finasteride not for women. It says these treatments do not work for everyone, only work for as long as they are used and are not all available on the NHS.

The BAD leaflet on female pattern hair loss describes daily 2% or 5% minoxidil solution to the scalp as something that may slow progression and partially restore hair in some women, and says it should be used for at least 6 months before any benefit is noted. It also lists oral options such as low-dose oral minoxidil and anti-androgen medicines, which are not licensed for this use. Among the other treatment options, the leaflet lists wigs, skin camouflage and hair transplantation, and treats PRP alongside these as a private option. The NHS list of other hair loss treatments does not include PRP among them.

This matters for decision making because the established options have a longer track record and clearer information on benefit and risk. PRP is generally considered by people who have already tried those options, who cannot use them or who prefer an injection to daily applications, and it is reasonable to ask a dermatologist where it sits for your type of hair loss.

Not all hair loss is the same, and an injection treatment makes sense only for some types. The NHS says some types, such as male and female pattern baldness, are permanent and usually run in the family, while others may be temporary and caused by an illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss or iron deficiency. The BAD leaflet on telogen effluvium says that shedding usually gets completely better without treatment, with the shedding phase lasting between 3 and 6 months, and that taking medication does not speed up regrowth. It lists thyroid conditions and iron deficiency among the causes that a blood test may be used to exclude.

A GP or dermatologist can look at the scalp, take a history and arrange blood tests where appropriate. Patchy hair loss, scarring hair loss or hair loss with scalp symptoms needs a different approach from diffuse thinning, and paying for an injection course before the diagnosis is clear can be a poor use of money and time.

Any injection carries general risks such as pain, bruising, bleeding and infection, which is why it should be given with sterile technique by a trained professional. The published clinic study reported no negative effects among its participants, but a small, uncontrolled series cannot rule out rarer problems.

If you are considering PRP privately, sensible questions include which type of hair loss you have and how that was diagnosed, what the practitioner's qualifications are, what the evidence is for your type of hair loss, how many sessions are planned and what happens if there is no improvement, what the total cost is, and how the procedure and any complications are recorded. The NHS also suggests asking your GP about emotional help if hair loss is distressing, including counselling and support groups such as Alopecia UK.

On the NHS, a GP can assess hair loss, arrange blood tests, advise on licensed treatments and refer to a dermatologist where needed. PRP is not part of that offer, according to the BAD. Where it is provided, it is a private treatment, usually in a course with maintenance sessions, and costs vary between providers. Independent advice from a GP or dermatologist before committing to a course can help you judge whether PRP is likely to suit your type of hair loss.