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Hair-loss Treatment Success Story | PRP Clinic in Vancouver
Female Patient Presenting with Hair-loss in our Vancouver Clinic
Here we present a case study of a middle aged female (45 years old), presenting with a history of chronic shedding (longer than 6 months).
Patient History:
A 45 year old female patient presented to Monarch MD for our hair analysis experiencing shedding and thinning of her hair, especially in the front and temple regions, for 1 year prior to the consultation. There was a family history of hair loss in the males in her family. She was taking an over-the-counter Biotin supplement for 5 months and also began using topical Rogaine (Minoxidil) for 4 months. She noted that Rogaine helped reduce the shedding however it was still ongoing. The hair loss was not related to any pregnancy or menopausal symptoms.
Examination:
Scalp Examination: Examination of the scalp revealed thinning throughout the scalp, most of it being in the temple regions.
Trichoscopy: Vellus and Miniaturization of hairs throughout along with single hair follicles. The yellow dots seen indicate follicular inflammation due to the presence of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). (See images below)
Scalp pH: Normal (5.5)
Blood Work Analysis: We sent the patient for blood work with the only abnormality being low Vitamin D.
Assessment:
In any female patient in the 30s or early 40s, the first diagnosis to be considered is androgenetic alopecia or female pattern hair loss. Another diagnosis to be considered is telogen effluvium (stress related hair loss) or a combination or the two conditions occurring simultaneously.
The key issue with androgenetic alopecia is that it usually goes unnoticed for a period of time, which may vary from patient to patient, this is called Stage 1. At this stage, some signs may be detectable through trichoscopy. During Stage 2, the patient may start to notice more hairs in the shower, more hair shedding while brushing or more scalp showing. In stage 3, family and friends of the patient begin to notice and as this stage worsens it becomes harder to camouflage the hair loss. It is of utmost importance to catch and diagnose androgenetic alopecia early to improve treatment outcomes.
Based on gross examination, trichoscopy and the lack of any significant blood work abnormalities this patient was diagnosed with female pattern hair loss.
Diagnosis and Treatment Results
Diagnosis:
Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss) worsened by Vitamin D deficiency.
Treatment Plan:
- Vitamin D deficiency: The patient was placed on 3000-5000 IU of vitamin D per day with a repeat test done 3 months after beginning supplementation.
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Scalp Microneedling: The patient did 4 sessions of PRP and scalp microneedling done 1 month apart.
- Topical Minoxidil: Rogaine was discontinued and topical Minoxidil from our recommended brand was initiated twice per day.
The photos below were taken 5 months apart. It must be noted however that recovery from hair loss due to vitamin D deficiency can take 6-8 months to show full recovery. The patient is continuing her maintenance with topical minoxidil and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) treatments done every 3 months and continues to regrow her hair and maintain her results.
Below is a repeat of the trichoscopy 5 months after the first PRP treatment. As seen in the image, the hair is thicker, with some follicles producing multiple hairs. In addition, there are less “yellow dots” indicating less follicular inflammation and healthier follicles
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