THE USE OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA IN THE TREATMENT OF ALOPECIA - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Alopecia is a commonly occurring medical condition. Various types of alopecia are distinguished, with the most common being androgenetic alopecia affecting both men and women. Standard treatments do not always yield the expected results, hence the search for alternative forms of therapy for this condition. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used in medicine for a long time, but it has gained popularity in aesthetic medicine and dermatology in recent years. The action of PRP includes stimulating collagen formation. The therapeutic effects of PRP therapy in alopecia are achieved through the synergistic action of various types of growth factors. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma therapy for baldness, to compare its effectiveness with other treatment methods and to present this issue to the reader. Methods: Analysis of issues related to baldness and platelet-rich plasma therapy from PubMed sources and comparison of the effectiveness of this therapy with other methods. Conclusions: Treatment with PRP for androgenetic alopecia results in an increase in overall hair density. In chronic plaque alopecia, such therapy leads, among other things, to increased hair regrowth. Combined therapy of PRP with minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia yields better results than using these methods separately. The same applies to combined therapy of PRP with finasteride. However, minoxidil with PRP yields better results than finasteride with PRP.