Our blood consists of three types of cells - Red blood cells (RBC) , white blood cells (WBC) and platelets. Every single cell in our body has an assigned duties to perform like RBC carries oxygen and carbon dioxide from and to the organs for their survival. WBC helps in dealing with any new infection arising in the body. While platelets help in clotting, but apart from clotting factors platelets also loads of growth factors which help in growth of bone, skin, hair and any other tissue in the body. Hence the extraction of platelets and injecting them into the wound or desired area where we need more growth has been an excellent and most natural way of treatment.
Uses of PRP in dermatology
PRP for skin - PRP when injected into the skin can help in rejuvenation. How it works ? Well it has growth factors for your collagen , elastin i.e. fibers present in the skin which makes your skin bouncy and firm. It contains growth factors for blood vessel multiplication, so it helps in increasing the blood supply to skin and hence helps in new skin generation. PRP can also stimulate the stem cells to produce new skin cells.
PRP for hair growth - PRP enhances the blood supply to the hair follicle. Hair follicles are pocket like structures in which hair shaft resides and from where new hair arise.
PRP reduces the death of hair follicles and promotes hair growth phase. So, our hair grows in phases - growing phase, resting and shedding phase. At any point of time more than 80% of hair should be in growing hair. When due to some reasons for illness , we start tp shed hair which means that shedding phase hair population is increasing, PRP can help in reversing it and promoting growth phase and even prolonging hair growth phase.
How is the procedure done?
For PRP , first doctor will collect your blood (around 15-20ml) and then put it in a machine named centrifuge machine. This centrifuge machine helps in separating cells in the blood. RBC, WBC and platelets are separated as shown in the picture above. The separated platelet rich plasma is then injected back into the desired area.
Why are injections required?
Most of the times patients ask me if we can have all these good effects without having to undergo injections. I wish this was possible, but sadly, for PRP to work it needs to be injected into the hair follicle area where the daughter cells are present or into the lower part of the skin where the new skin is being produced.
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