Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring auto-immune hair disorder. Recent researches explained the role of growth factors (GFs) in hair follicle cycling. The main reservoir of GFs are alpha-granules of platelets and novel procedures have been implemented aimed at collecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP has been safely implemented in many medical applications and has also been successfully used as alternative cell-based therapy for the treatment of hair growth disorders, among which also AA. Objectives: By means of a randomized double-blinded, placebo and active-controlled, parallel group study we have studied the efficacy of a cosmetic product (named TR-M-PRP plus) comprising biomimetic peptides specific for hair growth, mimicking PRP composition for the treatment of AA. Subjects were treated for three months and evaluated, at the end of the study and after one month of follow-up, as regards hair growth using SALT score. Results: TR-M-PRP plus-like topic produced a statistically significant (p < .001) clinical improvement in SALT score after 3 months of therapy, compared to baseline. Hair growth results further improved after 1 month of follow-up. Conclusions: This clinical investigation suggests that the biotechnological designed PRP-like cosmetic could represent a valid and safer alternative to autologous PRP for the treatment of AA.
Keywords: AA; PRP; alopecia areata; biomimetic peptides.