Will PRP be effective for treating hairfall on an oily scalp?

Question

I'm 21. I have curly hair and hairfall issues. And I have oily scalp that produces greasy dandruff. I have to shampoo my hair once in 2 days, otherwise it gets oily and itchy. Tried ketoconazole and coal tar shampoo. Didn't work. Consulted a doctor. She gave me some tablets and tea tree oil. Tried the tablets for about a month. Didn't seem to work. I'm also skinny. So, it could be deficiency in some vitamins. And also, my family doesn't have oily scalp or hairfall issues. So, will PRP work for me?

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

PRP should work well, even with oily scalp conditions. It wouldn't hurt to look into having Complete Blood Count (CBC), Complete Metabolic Panel, Thyroid, and Vitamin D lab work to determine possible contributors to hair loss and/or scalp conditions. I strongly suggest that you seek Trichoscopy examination of your scalp to assess your hair loss condition at the finite level. You should have a Trichoscopy examination before and after PRP treatments to assess your results. Best, Dr. Anil Shah

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

The  effectiveness of PRP is not related to the oiliness of your scalp. Often if one has lost hair, the scalp becomes oily because the number of  sebaceous glands remains the same and the hair shafts decrease allowing more sebum to be deposited on the existing hairs.If you have an excessive amount of flaking and any symptoms including itching,burning or tenderness, there may be some inflammation associated with your oiliness. This needs to be treated as it is a symptom of inflammation and since it enhances hair loss. Find a hair expert. Good luck.
Jeff Rapaport MD FAAD
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Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, PRP is ideal for hair loss, even if you have an oily scalp you can benefit from this treatment. I suggest trying Selphyl, it is the newest form of PRP and offers several benefits over traditional PRP. These benefits include longer-lasting aesthetic improvement as well as a more sustained release of beneficial growth factors in the treatment area. I recommend having an in-person consultation with a board-certified dermatologist to go over your options.

Nicole Hayre, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for your question. Oily scalp is not a contraindication for the PRP treatment. As long as you have hair growth in your scalp, you would be a candidate for the PRP treatment. You may need to have an evaluation for other underlying problems which may cause excessive oiliness.  Please see a board-certified Dermatologist for an evaluation and to determine if you are an ideal candidate for the treatment.

Paul Fondacaro, MD · Answer

PRP will work on the treatment of hair loss even on a scalp that is oily. That is not a contraindication and the sebaceous glands that cause it should have no effect on the results

Joseph Franzese, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Thank you for your questions, 
While PRP  can be very effective for some types of hair loss, it is important to know the underlying cause prior to treatment. I would recommend finding a specialist. Blood work is common prior to hair restoration therapy in order rule out any underlying condition.   
Best, 
Joseph Franzese, M.D.

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Will PRP be effective for treating hairfall on an oily scalp?

Answers (6)

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