Alopecia, or hair loss, can leave men and women alike struggling to accept their changing appearances. There are many treatments available to treat thinning hair and hair loss, including medications, shampoos, laser therapy, and microneedling.
Another treatment option is PRP, an incredible option now available to patients at Lakeside Dermatology. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, and this treatment can be used for a number of conditions that benefit from the stimulation of various types of cells in the body. For hair loss, PRP activates certain growth factors that then act on stem cells around hair follicles, ultimately promoting the development of new follicles and hair growth.
PRP is performed by first withdrawing blood from the patient, then processing it to extract the platelet-rich plasma. The blood plasma extracted this way contains growth factors and cytokines that have been found to help bone and soft tissue heal, as well as to stimulate hair growth. These enriched cells are then injected directly into the patient’s scalp in order to produce the desired rejuvenation.
Although PRP treatment for hair loss is still relatively new, PRP therapy has been successfully used as a medical treatment for various conditions for several decades. PRP was developed in the 1970s, and first utilized medically in 1987 during an open-heart procedure in Italy. This treatment has been widely used for more than 20 years in skin and wound healing treatments, in areas of dentistry, sports medicine, cosmetic surgery, and pain management.
Now Lakeside Dermatology is happy to be able to offer this revolutionary treatment to our patients concerned about their hair loss. When you visit our office for the PRP procedure, you can be assured that we will do all we can to minimize any discomfort from the treatment, but you will still be able to drive afterward and return to your daily routine.
The needs of individual patients will vary, but generally, three treatments scheduled six weeks apart are sufficient to achieve the desired results.
This column is sponsored by Lakeside Dermatology, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFHN or its advertisers.
BIO: Dr. Alex Kennon, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist who is fellowship-trained in Mohs micrographic surgery. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Florida State University and completed his dermatology residency at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Lakeside Dermatology has offices in Sebring and Winter Haven.
