Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Hair Restoration: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Hair loss is a common dermatological condition that can significantly affect an individual’s psychological well-being and quality of life. Among the most frequent causes are androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous blood product enriched with platelets and growth factors, has recently gained attention as a minimally invasive treatment option for hair restoration. This narrative review evaluates the therapeutic efficacy and safety of PRP in the management of different types of hair loss and summarizes current clinical evidence. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify relevant clinical studies published between 2020 and 2026. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, prospective studies, retrospective analyses, and pilot studies investigating PRP for hair restoration. Data on study design, treatment protocols, outcomes, and safety were extracted and qualitatively analyzed. Fifty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, PRP demonstrated promising therapeutic benefits across several forms of alopecia, with reported response rates ranging from 70% - 86.7% in androgenetic alopecia, 56.7% - 78.6% in alopecia areata, and 65% - 75% in telogen effluvium. However, differences in study design and treatment protocols limit direct comparison. Reported adverse effects were generally mild and transient, most commonly injection-site pain and erythema, and high levels of patient satisfaction were consistently observed. PRP appears to be a safe and potentially effective treatment option for various types of hair loss; however, variability in study design, preparation methods, and treatment protocols limits definitive conclusions regarding its efficacy. Further well-designed studies are needed to establish standardized clinical guidelines.