Safety of hair PRP with actinic keratosis spot on the scalp, advice?

Question

I'm 70 and healthy, but I've severe thinning hair. Due to age and the lack of physical screen for the scalp, even though I get little sun exposure, I've developed actinic keratosis on the scalp. Last year I had the spot checked and treated, but the procedure was not resolvant. Now I'm undergoing hair prp for aesthetic reasons, but due to the role growth factors play in prp I'm wondering if it is safe to undergo the procedure and if I can inject the spot. Thank you in advance

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This needs an in-person evaluation. I suggest seeing a hair loss expert now to go over your test results, condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like prp/progesterone which can help with hair regrowth and/or hair transplantation. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

Interesting and excellent question!  I believe the answer to this question may lie in the PRP technique. If PRP is utilized on top of the skin with micro-needling or intradermal injection, the possibility of actinic keratosis being stimulated exists. If one uses subdermal Depot injections, it is less likely that actinic keratosis would be affected. There are many different types of growth factors and cytokines in PRP and they can stimulate skin cells and blood vessels. Studies have not been done to evaluate whether this induces the growth of existing skin cancers. Since PRP does not enter the nucleus of existing normal cells, I don't believe it is mutagenic or can cause de novo (new)  skin cancer.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Nobody really knows this answer because studies have not been done. Many of the growth factors in PRP could theoretically favour progression of actinic keratoses en route to cancer. These include Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) which theoretically could trigger a variety of cell signaling mechanisms by stimulating cell surface receptors.  This topic needs study.

Safety of hair PRP with actinic keratosis spot on the scalp, advice?

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Safety of hair PRP with actinic keratosis spot on the scalp, advice?

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about PRP for Hair Loss

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