Q:

My friend is getting PRP injections in the scalp to treat her hair loss. I had PRP injections a few years ago in my knee because of an injury and I found that it really helped me to recover.  I didn’t know that it helped for hair loss too, and now I’m interested in having it done.

A:

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is a treatment that uses your own blood cells to treat certain conditions.  To create PRP, the patient’s blood is drawn just as it would be for a blood test, and then the clear portion of the blood is separated from the red portion.  This clear portion is rich in substances that stimulate repair and growth of tissues in our body.  It is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, ranging from joint injuries to dry eyes and dental problems.  We often use PRP injected into the scalp to treat the most common type of hair loss in men and women.  It is always used as one part of a comprehensive treatment program.  We also often use PRP applied on the skin to accelerate healing, such as after a laser treatment or a wound from an injury.  PRP can be a powerful tool that harnesses our body’s own natural healing ability.