Abstract
Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained popularity for hair restoration due
to its effectiveness and safety. PRP could be administered through direct local injections
to the scalp or applied topically with the aid of microneedling therapy. This systematic
review aims to elaborate on the effectiveness of PRP administered with syringe injection
and topical PRP with microneedling combination for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia
(AGA). A literature search was employed through PubMed, Cochrane Central Register
of Controlled Trials, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. The database was searched
using terms and keywords: “platelet-rich plasma” and “microneedling” and “androgenetic
alopecia.” Inclusion criteria are human study, patients with AGA, studies that compare
PRP with syringe injection and the combination of PRP and microneedling. Exclusion
criteria are animal study, review, case reports, or studies on other form of alopecia.
A total of 108 articles found in the database. Title and abstract screening yield
12 articles. After full-text reading three articles were included in the review. A
combination of PRP and microneedling appears to yield more superior results than direct
syringe injection. Topical PRP and microneedling potentially give better results on
AGA cases. Further high-quality studies with uniform protocol are needed to confirm
these findings.
Level of Evidence I.
Keywords
platelet-rich plasma - microneedling - androgenetic alopecia
