New 'Vampire' Treatment Used In Hair Restoration

Hair loss can be a traumatic event for both men and women. While there are cosmetic treatments that can successfully restore hair today, one recently tested procedure is gaining plenty of attention. Dubbed the ‘Vampire Treatment’, the procedure is not as nearly gruesome as it sounds. It has also shown great promise in trials performed by Israeli and Italian scientists, leading many American doctors to take a closer look at the procedure as well.

What is the Vampire Treatment?

The Vampire Treatment uses substances in the patient’s own blood to stimulate new hair growth. A blood sample is taken from the patient, and processed in a machine that separates platelet rich plasma (PRP) from the rest of the blood. The PRP solution is then injected back into the head, where scientists believe it promotes the growth of new stem cells below the surface of the skin. These new stem cells may lead to healthy hair follicle function, even in follicles that had stopped growing hair in the past.

Researchers Test Effectiveness of Vampire Treatments

Research on the Vampire Treatment was recently published in the British Journal of Dermatology. Scientists chose 45 test subjects who all suffered from alopecia areata, an auto-immune disorder that causes inflammation that leads to hair loss. The 45 subjects were divided into three randomized groups. The three groups were divided as follows:

• Group receiving injections of PRP
• Group treated with triamcinolone acetonide (steroid used to treat skin conditions)
• Placebo group

Each group was treated on one-half of the scalp, so that scientists could compare hair growth that occurred with each individual test subject. Every subject received three of their assigned treatments, with intervals of one month between each treatment session. The patients were then monitored for 12 months after treatment was complete.

Scientists found that the patients treated with PRP injections showed significant hair growth over subjects in the other two groups. In addition, patients in the PRP group did not experience side effects with treatment, such as itchy scalp, burning or hair dystrophy (damage to hair follicles). The findings led researchers to conclude that PRP injections may be a safe, effective treatment for other types of hair loss as well, including the most common, androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness.

Promising Results for Men and Women

The recent research could offer hope to both men and women who suffer from hair loss today. Currently, there are effective treatment options for stopping hair loss in its tracks and even re-growing hair in some cases. Treatment options include:

• Medication – Finasteride, sold by the commercial names of Propecia and Proscar has been found to help some men regrow hair after suffering male pattern baldness. However, some patients have reported serious side effects from the medication, including loss of sexual function. The problem appears to be permanent in some men, even after the medication is stopped.
• Scalp Reduction – This surgical procedure removes small sections of bald skin. The space if then covered with other areas of the hair-covered scalp. In some cases, the hair-bearing skin is simply folded over the bare spot, in a procedure known as a flap.
• Hair Transplants – Considered the most effective method of hair restoration today, hair transplants involve the removal of tiny skin plugs containing hair from fuller areas of the scalp. The plugs are then implanted into the bald areas of the scalp, creating the look of more hair and encouraging future hair growth from the implant site.

With the Vampire Treatment now showing great promise of hair restoration with a less invasive procedure, it appears this innovative treatment is worth a closer look. Researchers are continuing to explore the viability of this option, hoping they may be able to convert the PRPs to a topical cream that would eliminate the need for scalp injections.

If you are looking for options in hair restoration, our representatives can help. contact us today to learn more about hair loss treatments or to connect with a qualified specialist in hair loss in your area today!.

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