When to Seek Treatment for Hair Loss

It’s estimated that baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, affects 80 million Americans. While it may seem that mostly men deal with balding, about 50% of women also suffer from noticeable hair loss. 

Here at Integrative Primary Care in Katy, Texas, which serves the Houston area, we understand the frustration hair loss can bring. Our care team offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which is a nonsurgical treatment that can help treat hair loss.

In this blog, we explain when you should seek treatment for hair loss, what PRP therapy is, and how it can help reverse hair loss.

What are the signs of hair loss?

Anyone can experience hair loss, but the signs may change or be more or less obvious depending on the length of your hair. For people with long hair, the signs of hair loss may include seeing scalp skin through the hair, a widening part on the top of the head, and having smaller ponytails. 

For people with short hair, signs may include gradual thinning on the top of the head, circular or patchy bald spots, and a receding hairline. If you notice any long-term changes to your hair, you may be experiencing hair loss and can benefit from a consultation. 

Is hair loss treatment for me?

If you’re dealing with unwanted hair loss, it’s never too early to get an opinion from one of our providers about treatment. 

Most adults who experience thinning hair are candidates for PRP therapy. Before beginning PRP therapy, our team works with you to evaluate your hair loss and understand your medical history to ensure PRP therapy is right for you. 

For patients who have certain medical conditions, such as lupus, thyroid disease, skin cancer, or a bleeding disorder, PRP therapy may not be as effective as it would be in patients without these conditions. On the other hand, patients with a family history of thinning hair may find PRP therapy especially effective. 

What do I need to know about PRP therapy?

PRP therapy is a regenerative, nonsurgical treatment that can be used to help regrow hair. This innovative technology harvests cells called platelets from your blood. Platelets contain important nutrients and growth factors that help with the rebuilding and regeneration of tissue.

During your PRP therapy session at Integrative Primary Care, your doctor draws a small amount of your blood. Then they put the blood sample in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the rest of your blood’s components. 

Your provider then injects the resulting solution — called platelet-rich plasma — into your scalp at predetermined areas to help the growth of new hair. Since only your own blood gets used, PRP therapy has few risks. Common side effects of the treatment may include slight discomfort or soreness at the injection sites.  

After your injections, you can go on about your usual activities. Treatments usually take no more than an hour, and in most cases, patients receive three PRP treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart. 

How does PRP therapy help with hair loss? 

Research shows that platelets can help reverse thinning hair in two major ways. First, platelets promote the growth of hair by extending the growing phase in your hair cycle.

Second, new hair follicles are stimulated by the growth factors in the PRP solution. This allows new hair to grow in the places that were thinning before treatment. 

Results take time, since the treatment relies on your body’s natural growing process. So while PRP therapy can be very effective at reversing thinning hair, it can take 2-3 months to see noticeable results. 

To learn more about PRP therapy and to see if it may be able to help you, call 832-500-7585 or book an appointment online with Integrative Primary Care today.