Platelet-Rich Plasma Hair Restoration – Here’s How It Works

Science took a big step forward in its battle against hair loss when doctors started using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments to jump-start hair growth. This promising new treatment—which uses your own blood—is a great alternative for people worried about the negative side-effects of other hair-loss treatments (but it’s not for everyone).

It turns out PRP helps stimulate dormant hair follicles to regrow hair where beneficial platelets from your own blood are harvested and then injected into your scalp. But don’t worry; you get anesthesia!  Here’s how it works. Our blood is made of two main components: red blood cells, and plasma. The plasma contains white blood cells and platelets, which are rich in growth factors. Growth factors play the role of messengers, signaling the cells to function and reducing early signals for cell death (apoptosis). Injecting these growth factors into the scalp helps stimulate the activity of the hair follicles and promotes new hair growth.

PRP has been used to treat a range of health issues, including arthritis, sports injuries, and other signs of aging. You may have stumbled upon articles about a facial treatment called the vampire facial which utilizes PRP to combat wrinkles.

Used in hair restoration only for the past few years, PRP is a great option for some but it’s not a cure-all for everybody. Of course, there are many reasons for thinning hair, so it’s understandable that there are also many different solutions. PRP isn’t a substitute for a hair transplant, in which healthy, active hair follicles are physically redistributed around your scalp. PRP will not help grow hair where the follicles have already been damaged or lost. It’s best for the prevention of thinning of hair and best when used early on while hair density is still high.

If you’re among the two-thirds of men who suffer hair loss but you’re not ready to undergo a treatment like PRP yet, don’t despair. There are other hair support options that don’t require anesthesia.

Consider taking a supplement to give you better bioavailability for a range of nutrients that will help keep your hair healthy. Proper absorption is not just about getting more nutrients, it’s about getting the right balance. In some cases, taking too much of a particular nutrient or mineral can be toxic. Plant-based supplements typically carry a lower risk of toxicity than their synthetic or animal-sourced counterparts. For example, the risk of toxicity from plant-based iron supplements is less than that of animal-sourced iron supplements.

Nutrafol contains a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients—in the right balance—for your hair health. Nutrafol’s research team determined the best therapeutic plants that would target multiple triggers and ingredients that work well together. Our supplements contain highly-prized botanicals for reducing stress and neutralizing free radicals, both of which interrupt optimal hair growth.