Platelet-Rich Plasma: The Journey so Far !

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product, obtained after blood centrifugation. PRP is rich in growth factors which promote tissue-healing, alter angiogenesis, and possess versatile immunomodulatory effects, in the relative absence of any significant demonstrable adverse effects. Consequently, PRP has found application in multiple specialities in recent years, including dermatology. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Medline database, and Google Scholar, using keywords like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-concentrated plasma, platelet-rich growth factors, autologous platelet concentrate. Relevant studies were selected, and data was analyzed following extraction. Studies show that PRP has not only been used as an adjunctive modality but has been employed as a stand-alone therapy as well. Multiple authors have reported PRP to be efficacious in disparate dermatological conditions, like alopecia, skin rejuvenation, healing of refractory cutaneous ulcers, and even acne scar management. The strongest evidence so far has been demonstrated in androgenetic alopecia and facial skin rejuvenation. However, routine use in dermatological conditions is hampered by the relative paucity of high-quality evidence and large randomized studies. Furthermore, PRP composition and preparation methods are not yet standardized and even the treatment regimens proposed too vary widely. The present review provides a bird's eye view of the evidence available so far regarding the use of PRP in dermatology. The review focusses more on recent prospective studies, including randomized trials and tries to summarize the evidence in a brief, but comprehensive manner.