Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of alopecia in males and females. Minoxidil and finasteride are the only FDA approved treatments for AGA. New treatments including Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and microneedling have shown promising results. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight recent studies examining the effects of topical minoxidil combined with PRP to minoxidil or PRP monotherapy. The method used for this paper include a systematic review of the literature from 2010 to 2022 using the PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases examining studies evaluating combination therapies for AGA. Three randomized control trials compared combination PRP + topical 5% minoxidil to either no treatment, 5% minoxidil, or PRP only. Two studies found increased hair growth at five months and at six months following combined therapy. Another study found an increase in hair density and improved patient satisfaction with combination therapy compared to monotherapy. A prospective study revealed that patients treated with combined 5% minoxidil, PRP, and microneedling reported the highest patient and physician satisfaction compared to minoxidil monotherapy. An observational study evaluating topical 5% minoxidil with PRP reported an increase in hair diameter after one year of combination treatment compared to minoxidil monotherapy. PRP therapy combined with minoxidil and microneedling in a retrospective study was shown to increase hair growth compared to PRP with minoxidil as well as PRP or minoxidil monotherapy. In conclusion, a variety of studies demonstrated superior treatment response with combination PRP and minoxidil therapy in patients with AGA. Limitations to this study include different PRP preparation protocols, few randomized control studies, and small sample sizes.

ESDR589 - Platelet rich plasma combination therapies for treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review

The scientific meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) is held yearly, usually in September. With an international attendance of more than 1000 skin scientists from around the globe, the four-day event includes short oral presentations from peer-reviewed abstracts, keynote lectures from international experts, sponsored symposia, satellite programs, educational events as well as an important focus on posters, networking and building collaborations amongst scientists. For more information about this year’s meeting visit our website.