What is PRP treatment for hair loss?

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) treatment for hair loss uses your body's own natural growth factors to revive thinning hair, strengthen follicles and boost new growth. The London PRP Clinic offers doctor-led PRP treatments for hair, scalp, and beard growth with proven results.

Does PRP work for beard growth?

Yes, PRP beard growth treatment is highly effective for filling patchy areas, enhancing beard density, and promoting thicker facial hair. Our doctor-led PRP beard treatment at £395 per session uses platelet-rich plasma to stimulate dormant hair follicles in the beard area.

How much does PRP treatment cost in London?

PRP treatment prices at The London PRP Clinic range from £395 for PRP Hair Signature or Beard PRP single sessions, to £545 for comprehensive treatments. We offer package discounts - for example, 3 PRP Hair sessions cost £1,085 (save £100).

What PRP services are available at The London PRP Clinic?

We offer PRP treatments for hair loss, beard growth, facial rejuvenation, under-eye treatment, knee joint pain, and scalp health. All treatments are doctor-led and evidence-based, delivered at our Marylebone, Canary Wharf, and Belgravia London locations.

How much does PRP cost for hair loss in London?

At The London PRP Clinic, PRP hair treatment costs £545 per session including Viviscal™ supplements and organic oils. Most patients need 3-4 initial sessions (package available at £1,500, saving £135). ExoRevive exosome treatment is £445 per session.

Does PRP really work for hair loss?

Yes, clinical studies show PRP is 70-90% effective for androgenetic alopecia. At our clinic, 87% of patients report significant improvement with an average 32% increase in hair density after 3-4 sessions. Results are best for Norwood stages 1-4.

What's better PRP or hair transplant?

PRP is ideal for early-stage hair loss (Norwood 1-4): non-surgical, no downtime, £545 per session. Hair transplants suit advanced loss (Norwood 5-7): permanent but surgical, 2-week recovery, £3,000-15,000. Many combine both for optimal results - PRP strengthens existing hair and enhances transplant survival.

How long do PRP results last?

PRP results typically last 12-18 months with proper maintenance. After initial 3-4 sessions, maintenance treatments every 6 months sustain results. Some patients using our combined protocol (PRP + supplements) report results lasting up to 2 years.

Is PRP painful for hair?

PRP involves minimal discomfort. We use topical numbing cream 30 minutes before treatment. Most patients rate pain as 2-3/10, describing it as 'mild pinching.' The entire procedure takes 60 minutes with no downtime - you can return to work immediately.

Can I wash my hair after PRP?

Wait 24 hours before washing your hair after PRP. Use lukewarm water and gentle shampoo for the first wash. Avoid swimming pools, saunas, and intense exercise for 48 hours. We provide detailed aftercare instructions and organic hair oil for optimal healing.

What are the newest hair loss treatments in 2025?

The newest effective hair loss treatments in 2025 include low-dose oral minoxidil (2.5-5mg daily), topical finasteride (0.25%), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, and low-level laser therapy devices. Emerging treatments like JAK inhibitors and topical androgen receptor antagonists are showing promising results in clinical trials.

Does oral minoxidil work for hair loss?

Yes, low-dose oral minoxidil (2.5-5mg daily) has proven highly effective for both male and female pattern hair loss. Studies show it's particularly effective for overall thinning, with manageable side effects primarily limited to mild hypertrichosis (extra hair growth).

Is PRP effective for hair restoration?

Yes, PRP therapy has demonstrated significant improvement in hair count and thickness in clinical trials. Most patients see noticeable results after 3-4 sessions, using the body's own growth factors to stimulate dormant hair follicles.

What's the best hair loss treatment in London?

The best hair loss treatment depends on your specific condition, but combination therapy often yields optimal results. The London PRP Clinic offers personalised treatment plans combining PRP therapy with other evidence-based treatments. Book a free consultation to determine the best approach for your hair loss pattern.

How much does PRP hair treatment cost in London?

PRP hair treatment costs vary based on the number of sessions needed. The London PRP Clinic offers competitive pricing with free initial consultations. Contact us via WhatsApp for a personalised quote based on your specific treatment needs.

DHT and Hair Loss: How This Hormone Causes Baldness and How to Stop It (2026)

29 Mar

Written By Omar Elalfy

What is DHT and how does it cause hair loss?

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the hormone responsible for approximately 95% of male pattern hair loss and a significant proportion of female pattern thinning. It is produced when the enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into its more potent androgenic form. In individuals with genetic sensitivity, DHT binds to androgen receptors on scalp hair follicles and triggers a process called follicular miniaturisation: each successive growth cycle produces a progressively thinner, shorter, lighter hair until the follicle eventually ceases producing visible hair altogether.

Understanding DHT is essential because it explains why hair loss follows predictable patterns (temples and crown in men, part line in women), why it runs in families (the sensitivity to DHT is genetically inherited), and why the most effective treatments work by either blocking DHT production or strengthening follicles against its effects.

Concerned about DHT-driven hair loss? Free assessment > WhatsApp

How DHT miniaturises hair follicles

The miniaturisation process occurs gradually over multiple hair growth cycles, each lasting 2 to 6 years. In a healthy follicle, the dermal papilla (the cluster of cells at the base of the follicle) receives normal hormonal signals and produces a thick, pigmented terminal hair. In a DHT-sensitive follicle, the dermal papilla has a high density of androgen receptors that bind DHT. When DHT attaches, it triggers a cascade of molecular signals that shrink the dermal papilla over time. A smaller dermal papilla produces a smaller hair matrix, which produces a thinner, shorter, less pigmented hair.

After multiple cycles of progressive shrinkage, the follicle produces only a tiny, colourless vellus hair (peach fuzz) before potentially ceasing production entirely. This is why thinning areas show a mixture of thick and fine hairs during the transition period. Those fine hairs are miniaturised follicles that can still be rescued with appropriate treatment.

The critical clinical point: miniaturised follicles are still alive and treatable. Completely inactive follicles that have been replaced by scar tissue are not. This distinction determines whether non-surgical treatment can help or whether transplant surgery is required.

How to fight DHT-driven hair loss: the three-layer approach

Layer 1: Block DHT production (pharmaceutical)

Finasteride 1mg daily (men). Inhibits type II 5-alpha reductase, reducing scalp DHT levels by approximately 70%. The most effective single treatment for stopping DHT-driven miniaturisation. FDA-approved since 1997. 80 to 90% of men maintain or improve density. Sexual side effects in approximately 1 to 2% of users, reversible upon discontinuation. Requires prescription. Cost: £15 to 40 per month.

Dutasteride 0.5mg daily (off-label). Inhibits both type I and type II 5-alpha reductase, achieving approximately 90% DHT reduction. More potent than finasteride but used off-label for hair loss. May be appropriate for patients who have not responded adequately to finasteride.

Topical finasteride. Delivers localised DHT reduction with less systemic absorption. Emerging option for men concerned about oral finasteride side effects.

For women: Finasteride is generally contraindicated in women of childbearing age. Spironolactone (an anti-androgen) may be used for women with elevated androgen levels. This makes non-hormonal treatments like PRP especially important for female patients.

Layer 2: Regenerate weakened follicles (PRP therapy)

While DHT blockers stop the cause, PRP repairs the damage. PRP delivers concentrated growth factors (PDGF, VEGF, TGF-beta, EGF, IGF) that stimulate miniaturised follicles to re-enter the active growth phase, extend the anagen duration for thicker hair production, improve dermal papilla cell proliferation, and enhance blood vessel formation around follicles.

PRP does not block DHT. It strengthens follicles against DHT's effects while finasteride reduces the DHT exposure. Together, they address both cause and consequence.

A 2025 meta-analysis of 43 RCTs (1,877 participants) confirmed PRP significantly increases hair density by an average of 31%. At The London PRP Clinic: from £545 per session, 87% success rate.

Layer 3: Support blood flow and nutrition

Minoxidil (topical or oral) improves scalp blood flow and nutrient delivery to follicles under DHT stress. Complements both finasteride and PRP.

Nutritional optimisation through blood work and supplementation (iron, vitamin D, zinc, biotin) ensures follicles have the building blocks for recovery. Viviscal Professional supplements are included with PRP treatment at The London PRP Clinic.

Microneedling enhances delivery of both minoxidil and PRP growth factors while triggering additional follicle-stimulating wound healing.

Are natural DHT blockers effective?

Several natural compounds have demonstrated mild DHT-inhibiting properties in preliminary studies.

Saw palmetto (320mg daily) inhibits 5-alpha reductase mildly, achieving approximately 30% DHT reduction versus finasteride's 70%. Some patients report modest benefit for very early thinning. Not a substitute for pharmaceutical treatment when loss is actively progressing.

Pumpkin seed oil, green tea extract, and rosemary oil all show preliminary evidence for mild anti-androgenic or follicle-stimulating effects. They may contribute modestly as part of a comprehensive regimen but should not be relied upon as primary treatments for active androgenetic alopecia.

The honest assessment: if your hair loss is visibly progressing, natural DHT blockers alone are unlikely to halt it. Medical treatment (finasteride, PRP, minoxidil) is the evidence-based approach.

Start evidence-based DHT treatment > WhatsApp

Why early action against DHT matters

Every month that DHT continues acting on your follicles unopposed, more follicles progress from reversible miniaturisation toward permanent inactivity. The difference between starting treatment at Norwood II versus Norwood IV can mean the difference between maintaining a full head of hair and requiring surgical transplantation.

At The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness, our GMC-registered doctors assess your stage of DHT-driven loss and recommend the most effective combination of DHT blockade and regenerative therapy for your specific situation.

PRP from £545. ExoRevive from £445. 87% success rate. 187+ five-star reviews. Marylebone and Canary Wharf.

Book your free assessment > WhatsApp | Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com | Call: +44 20 3951 3429

Medical Disclaimer: Finasteride and dutasteride require prescription and medical assessment. Results vary. All treatments at The London PRP Clinic performed by GMC-registered doctors. Last reviewed March 2026.

Omar Elalfy