Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Half-Head Study to Assess the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was identified as having a beneficial effect in alopecia and has been postulated as a new therapy for androgenetic alopecia (AGA). OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of PRP for the treatment of AGA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in 25 patients with AGA. Platelet-rich plasma was injected in half-head and the other half-head with placebo. Each patient received a total of 3 treatments of PRP, 1 month apart. RESULTS: Six months after the first treatment with PRP, significant differences were seen in mean anagen hairs (67.6 ± 13.1), telogen hairs (32.4 ± 13.1), hair density (179.9 ± 62.7), and terminal hair density (165.8 ± 56.8) when compared with baseline (p < .05). Platelet-rich plasma was also found to increase hair density when comparing with the control side (p < .05). For the first time, the authors found a correlation between anagen hairs and patients >40 years and beginning of AGA ≥25 years old (p < .05) and hair density and male sex, age ≤40 years, positive family history of AGA and >10 years of duration of the disease (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Application of PRP showed a positive effect on AGA and could be regarded as an adjuvant therapy for AGA.

AIRMESS - Academy of International Regenerative Medicine & Surgery Societies: recommendations in the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous stem cell-based therapy (ASC-BT) in androgenetic alopecia and wound healing.

INTRODUCTION: Many investigations showed that platelet-rich plasma (PRP), human follicles stem cells (HFSCs), and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), considered autologous stem cell-based therapy (ASC-BT), are effective for hair regrowth (HR) in patients affected by androgenetic alopecia and for wound healing (WH). The aim of this article is to analyze the in vitro and in vivo impact of different PRP, HFSCs, and ASCs preparation methods on HR and in WH. AREAS COVERED: The analyzed data intended to clarify the molecular mechanism in which PRP, HFSCs, and ASCs are involved, the clinical use and related indications, fully respecting the European rules. Comparative studies between different systems of PRP, HFSCs, and ASCs preparation revealed differences in terms of HR and WH. EXPERT OPINION: Despite a lack of standardized protocols, there is convincing evidence with objective measurement modalities that display positive outcomes of ASC-BT in HR and WH.

Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei: a case report.

UNLABELLED: A 33-year-old man presented to our clinic with asymptomatic red-brown, dome-shaped papules, distributed bilaterally on the central area of the face (forehead, lower portions of the eyelids, nasolabial folds, and perioral areas) these had evolved over a period of about 1 year. A skin biopsy, taken from a lesion on the forehead, revealed an epithelioid cell granuloma with central necrosis and surrounding lymphocytic infiltrate with multinucleate giant cells. The chest X-ray and the results of the laboratory studies were within normal limits; the Mantoux test was negative. The patient was treated with minocycline 100 mg/day for 4 months. There was significant clinical improvement, but papular lesions remained on the forehead. Later on, treatment with systemic steroids for 7 months resulted in the resolution of most lesions. COMMENT: Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei (LMDF) is an uncommon, chronic, inflammatory dermatosis characterized by red-to-yellow or yellow-brown papules of the central face, particularly on and around the eyelids. Originally, LMDF was considered to be a variant of lupus vulgaris or a tuberculid because of the histology, but there has been no evidence to date supporting a link to tuberculosis. Some authors consider LMDF to be a granulomatous forms of rosacea. However, our case supports the concept that it is a distinct entity.

Platelet-Rich Plasma and its Use for Cicatricial and Non-Cicatricial Alopecias: A Narrative Review.

The concept and description of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) started in the field of hematology and is being extensively used in other fields of medicine. Interest in the application of PRP has been increasing in dermatology, such as in tissue regeneration, wound healing, scar revision, skin-rejuvenating effects, and alopecia. PRP is an autologous blood product containing high concentrations of platelets in a small volume of plasma. Different preparations of PRP may lead to different volumes of PRP, platelet concentration, and presence or absence of leukocytes. PRP is being used as a new therapy for some types of non-cicatricial alopecia such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA) and, recently, new insights refer to the possibility of action in the field of cicatricial alopecia, like lichen planopillaris (LPP) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). This article aims to identify the major indications for the application of PRP in the field of hair disorders, including non-cicatricial and cicatricial alopecia.

A Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma: History, Biology, Mechanism of Action, and Classification.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is currently used in different medical fields. The interest in the application of PRP in dermatology has recently increased. It is being used in several different applications as in tissue regeneration, wound healing, scar revision, skin rejuvenating effects, and alopecia. PRP is a biological product defined as a portion of the plasma fraction of autologous blood with a platelet concentration above the baseline. It is obtained from the blood of patients collected before centrifugation. The knowledge of the biology, mechanism of action, and classification of the PRP should help clinicians better understand this new therapy and to easily sort and interpret the data available in the literature regarding PRP. In this review, we try to provide useful information for a better understanding of what should and should not be treated with PRP.

Hair loss in children.

Hair diseases represent frequent complaints in dermatology clinics, and they can be caused by a number of conditions reflected by specific diagnoses. Hair loss is not uncommon in the pediatric group, but its patterns in this group are different from those seen in adults. Additionally, in children, these disorders can have psychological effects that can interfere with growth and development. Hair is easily accessible for examination, and dermatologists are in the enviable situation of being able to study many disorders using simple diagnostic techniques. To fully understand hair loss during childhood, a basic comprehension of normal hair growth is necessary. Knowledge of the normal range and variation observed in the hair of children further enhances its assessment. This chapter has been written in an attempt to facilitate the diagnostic process during daily practice by helping to distinguish between acquired and congenital hair diseases. It can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between abnormality and normality in neonatal hair aspects. Management of hair disorders can be quite a daunting task for the attending physician and mandates a holistic approach to the patient. Some hair disturbances have no effective treatment, and for others, no single treatment is 100% successful. If no effective treatment for a hair loss disease exists, a cosmetic approach is important.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum papillary dermal elastolysis: a case report.

PXE-PDE is a rare clinicopathological entity with few cases reported. It affects more often elderly women and is characterized by asymptomatic bilateral and symmetrical yellowish papules localized predominantly on the neck and supraclavicular regions. It is clinically similar to Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. The authors report a case of a 64-year-old woman presenting asymptomatic, yellowish, non-follicular papules, affecting the occipital and the posterior region of the neck for 1 year. The patient denied pruritic or inflammatory changes, marked solar exposition or trauma on the affected areas. Routine laboratory studies: thoracic x-ray and ophthalmologic examination were normal. The histopathologic examination of a biopsy of one of the cutaneous lesions showed an absence of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis.The diagnosis of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum-like Papillary Dermal Elastolysis (PXE-PDE) was made. Of great importance is the differential diagnosis with Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), but we have also to consider other elastolytic disorders: mid-dermal elastolysis (MDE), linear focal elastosis (LFE) and white fibrous papulosis of the neck (WFPN). Until know, there is no effective treatment for this pathology.