What is PRP?

PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. It is prepared from the patient’s own blood.

During preparation, blood components are separated by centrifugation. The aim is to obtain a plasma fraction with an increased platelet concentration. Platelets contain signalling proteins and growth factors involved in cellular communication, repair and regenerative processes.

This biological rationale does not automatically mean that PRP is clinically effective for every aesthetic indication. Each use must be assessed in controlled clinical studies.

Is PRP different in men and women?

The basic principle of PRP preparation is the same in men and women. Relevant differences are more likely to concern the underlying diagnosis, skin physiology and treatment objective.

Male skin may differ from female skin in sebum production, thickness and some biomechanical properties. This does not establish a generally superior or specifically male response to PRP.

The male-specific context is much clearer in hair loss: androgenetic alopecia is very common in men and is among the most extensively studied dermatological PRP applications.

How well are these areas studied?

PRP for male pattern hair loss

Androgenetic alopecia is one of the most common causes of hair loss in men and is currently one of the better studied aesthetic-dermatological PRP indications.

A 2024 systematic review focused on male androgenetic alopecia included eight randomized trials and one prospective cohort study with 291 participants. Six studies reported a statistically significant increase in hair density versus control, while five reported an increase in hair count.

The authors still urged caution because the overall evidence quality was low, risk of bias was often moderate and the included studies were highly heterogeneous.

A larger 2025 review identified 43 randomized controlled trials with 1,877 participants assessing PRP for alopecia. The overall signal was positive, but preparation, activation and treatment protocols remain major sources of variation.

PRP around hair transplantation

PRP is also being investigated as an adjunct around hair transplantation, including questions such as graft survival, early hair growth and postoperative recovery.

The evidence base is smaller and more heterogeneous than for androgenetic alopecia. PRP can therefore be described as an investigated adjunct, not as a requirement for successful hair transplantation.

PRP for the face and skin quality

In aesthetic medicine, PRP is studied for skin texture, elasticity, fine lines and dermal characteristics. The biological rationale is plausible, but clinical evidence is less consistent than in androgenetic alopecia.

Systematic reviews published in 2025 reported signals for improvements in selected skin parameters while emphasizing variable study quality, small sample sizes and heterogeneous PRP protocols. Findings appear more consistent for skin thickness and elasticity than for wrinkles, dyschromia or hydration.

Claims such as “PRP rejuvenates the skin” or “PRP removes wrinkles” are therefore too broad. A more accurate description is that PRP is being studied for changes in individual skin-quality parameters.

PRP for acne scars: combination treatment is particularly relevant

Another aesthetic-dermatological area with a growing evidence base is atrophic acne scarring. Here, PRP is often studied together with microneedling rather than as a stand-alone procedure.

A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated 17 studies with 1,111 participants. Combined microneedling and PRP produced better outcomes than microneedling alone for several study endpoints.

These findings relate to atrophic acne scars and should not be generalized to active acne or all types of scars.

What about PRP for excessive underarm sweating?

PRP is sometimes marketed online for axillary hyperhidrosis, but this use does not have a comparable established clinical evidence base.

Why PRP preparation matters

One major reason for inconsistent study findings is simple: PRP is not one standardized product.

Tube system, centrifugation, starting blood volume, recovered plasma fraction, platelet and leukocyte concentration, activation and application can differ substantially.

An RPM value alone is therefore insufficient for comparing protocols. Rotor radius, relative centrifugal force (RCF), run time, tube system and the manufacturer’s validated protocol need to be considered together.

What side effects can occur with PRP?

PRP is prepared from the patient’s own blood, so some risks associated with foreign materials are different. This does not make PRP risk-free.

Reported reactions include temporary pain or tenderness, redness, swelling and bruising. Infection cannot be categorically excluded.

Blood collection, preparation and any subsequent injection form a process chain in which appropriate hygiene, technique and suitable medical devices are essential.

• temporary pain or tenderness
• redness and swelling
• bruising at collection or injection sites
• temporary local skin reactions
• less common complications including infection

How many PRP sessions are needed?

There is no universal number. Clinical studies often use treatment series, but they differ substantially in the number of sessions, intervals, PRP composition and follow-up periods.

Blanket claims such as “three sessions are always enough” or “results last twelve months” cannot be responsibly derived from the literature. Treatment plans need to be individualized.

Is PRP suitable for everyone?

No. The underlying diagnosis, medical history, current disease, infections, hematological factors and medication must be considered before treatment.

What can PRP realistically offer men?

For androgenetic alopecia, the evidence base is now comparatively broad and shows a positive signal particularly for hair density, although protocols remain heterogeneous.

For facial skin and skin quality, studies suggest changes in selected parameters but results are less consistent. For atrophic acne scars, current evidence is especially interesting for PRP as an adjunct to microneedling.

The key question is therefore not simply whether “PRP” is used, but what kind of PRP is prepared, for which diagnosis, and how well that exact use has been studied.

Explore PRPmed

Selected scientific references