If you’re losing your hair and wondering why, you’re not alone. Over 80 million Americans experience hair loss, and the results can have devastating effects on your self-esteem.
At Integrative Medica, naturopathic doctors Jacob Schmutz, NMD, Joshua Hersh, NMD, and our entire care team understand how troubling noticeable hair loss can be. That’s why our practice offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to men and women in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Learn why you’re losing your hair and how innovative PRP therapy can help!
Millions of American men and women lose their hair every year. While hair loss is often regarded as a men’s problem, over 50% of women experience noticeable hair loss. In fact, about 30 million American women have female pattern hair loss (FPHL).
Everyone loses about 100 hairs each day. But certain conditions and risk factors increase your chances of experiencing excessive hair loss and thinning. Here are some of the most common reasons you might lose your hair.
If your family has a history of hair loss, you have an increased chance of losing your hair too. There’s nothing you can do to change your genetics to avoid hair loss, of course, but there’s good news. PRP therapy is highly effective at reversing hereditary hair loss.
If you wear your hair in a way that pulls on its roots, you increase your risk of a condition called traction alopecia. This is a type of hair loss that occurs from the force of the pull.
If you wear your hair in these styles, which include ponytails, cornrows, and tight braids, you increase the risk of damaging your hair follicles and developing permanent hair loss.
When your body is stressed, such as when you have a baby, lose lots of weight in a short time, undergo surgery, or suffer from an illness, you can trigger hair loss. For women, the host of hormone changes that come with menopause can also cause hair loss and thinning hair. Thyroid changes may also affect your hair growth and hair loss.
Other less common reasons you may be losing your hair include certain medications, including radiation therapy, and a medical condition called alopecia, which causes scalp infections and hair loss.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses your own platelets, the cells in your blood that contain nutrients and growth factors, to stimulate new cell production — including new hair.
During your PRP therapy session, an Integrative Medica team member draws a small amount of your blood, and then spins it in a centrifuge to separate your platelets from the rest of your blood. This creates a platelet-rich plasma, which your provider injects into your treatment areas.
At Integrative Medica, we combine PRP therapy with microneedling, an aesthetic treatment that uses ultra-fine needles to create micro-wounds. These tiny wounds jump-start your body’s healing process, triggering cell regeneration and the production of elastin and collagen.
PRP therapy doesn’t take long, usually no more than 60 minutes. And since no downtime is required, you can get back to your day immediately. But each patient’s needs are different, which is why our providers create an individualized plan for your unique hair goals.
Your PRP solution contains many growth factors, which help stimulate new hair follicles. The high concentration of platelets in the plasma cells extends the growing phase of your hair’s cycle.
This leads to new hair growth in places that were thinning or bald before treatment. The treatment leads to thicker, fuller hair and helps you feel better about your appearance without having to undergo hair transplant surgery.
While PRP therapy is extremely effective, you won’t see results overnight. Your new hair grows in gradually, with most of our patients enjoying noticeable results after about 2-3 months.
Before treatment, Dr. Schmutz or Dr. Hersh evaluates your overall health as well as your hair loss. Most healthy people are eligible for PRP therapy, and it’s considered safe for adults experiencing hair loss. PRP therapy can be especially effective at reversing hair loss that is genetically based.
If you’re ready to say goodbye to hair loss and hello to a thicker, fuller head of hair, contact the team at Integrative Medica in Salt Lake City, Utah, by calling 801-406-1939, or you can book online now.
