Even as more and more men and women admit to battling hair loss issues, the hair loss industry is racing to keep up. Most of the top pharmaceutical companies are allocating massive funds towards the research and development of new solutions for hair loss. Global News Wire talks about how the hair transplant industry share can potentially run to more than $24.8 billion by the year 2024. Following close behind are the oral drugs and ointments market shares along with growth in PRP hair loss treatments. It may interest you to know that the PRP industry is estimated to see an astounding spurt of 24.8% from 2018 to 2024.
Most Hair Loss Treatments Come with Downsides
If you’ve been looking around for hair growth options, chances are that you’re also educating yourself on the downsides. Like, for instance, the hair transplant option comes with pain and possibility of infection at the both, the harvesting and transplant sites. Oral supplements include Propecia that is suitable only for men while lotions and shampoos like Rogaine and similar products can cause severe side effects. Possibly, the worst downside of the pills and lotions is that they are effective only as long as you continue to use them. Once you stop the usage, you could lose the new growth within a short time.
PRP hair loss treatments are touted to having no side effects or adverse reactions since the serum used is extracted from your blood. Should you check for more information on the internet, you’ll also learn that PRP gives you long-lasting results since it stimulates the hair follicles to rejuvenate and start producing hair again – naturally.
But, is this really true?
Yes! PRP Hair Loss Treatments are a More Sustainable Approach
The National Center for Biotechnology Information has published the results of several clinical studies that have proved that PRP therapy is actually effective. Check the articles and images added to the site and you’ll see that patients have a thicker head of hair with better coverage. Perhaps, the best positive is that the treatment is equally effective on both men and women. And, is simply dependent on your body’s natural healing abilities. Users that have tried PRP often talk on RealSelf about the positive results they have achieved. You’re also likely to read about practitioners’ reviews and how they found that PRP works.
PRP Therapy Has its Share of Downsides
While PRP hair loss treatments are clearly effective and long-lasting, on rare occasions, you might notice unwanted after effects. However, these effects are typically the result of other factors that are unrelated to the actual procedure. Here’s a quick overview of the possible adverse effects and their possible causes.
1. Allergic Reactions in the Scalp
At the time of preparing the PRP serum for injection, doctors may have to add anti-clotting agents. While they take care to use only FDA-approved additives like epinephrine, there is a possibility that your body rejects the compound. You could also be allergic to the topical anesthetics that the trichologist may use to numb the scalp and minimize the discomfort. In rare cases, patients are also known to be allergic to the metals used to make the equipment. At the time of signing you up for the procedure, your doctor will likely check with you for any known allergies. In case you aren’t quite sure, she may test you for adverse reactions before the start of the process.
2. Scalp Infections
An essential part of the training in PRP therapy is how to observe the strictest of sterile conditions when preparing the serum and administering the PRP hair loss treatments. Infections can likely occur only if the lab technicians and doctors don’t observe the mandatory guidelines. For this reason, it is highly essential that you sign up for the procedure after making sure that the doctor has the necessary training, certification, and authorization to perform therapy on you. Checking with past patients for their experiences with the practitioner is also a wise move.
3. Pain at the Injection Site
Like this article on HealthLine explains, at the time of injecting the serum in the scalp, patients may feel some amount of pain and discomfort. Your doctor takes care to apply topical numbing agents and gives them time to work before starting the procedure. If needed, the doctor may instead choose to add the anesthesia to the serum and thus, prevent discomfort. In the next 48 hours, many patients experience pain and soreness, or possibly, even headaches. You could also sense tightness or stretched scalp skin. After the procedure is complete, your doctor will prescribe basic pain medications to help. After the initial couple of days, you’ll likely feel the pain easing.
4. Redness and Inflammation
PRP hair loss treatments work by signaling to the body that the area needs healing. The PRP serum attracts repairing platelets and growth factors to the site that repair the hair follicles. As a result, you’ll notice redness and swelling for around 2 to 3 days. If you notice these reactions, know that they are to be expected. In fact, the swelling is an indication that the treatment is working as it should.
5. Other Reactions
Check this feature on Medscape that reveals how PRP therapy may not be suitable for everyone. The treatment has several contraindications and at the time of discussing the procedure, your doctor will screen you carefully. You will also be asked a series of questions to check your medical history for any conditions because of which you cannot get therapy.
As you can see, PRP hair loss treatments can have adverse effects. However, they are not caused by the actual procedure. To ensure that you get the best results from the therapy, you may want to look for a doctor who has the necessary licensing and training from a reputable institute. Also, make sure that you follow the before and after precautions that the doctor outlines. Six months down the line, you may notice a thicker head of hair, better coverage, and a richer color and texture. Try it!
