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A small scale study to evaluate the efficacy of microneedling in the presence or absence of platelet‐rich plasma in the treatment of post‐clipping alopecia in dogs
Author(s) -
Diamond Jacquelyn C.,
Schick Robert O.,
Savage Mason Y.,
Fadok Valerie A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/vde.12821
Subject(s) - platelet rich plasma , medicine , hair follicle , clipping (morphology) , hair loss , hair growth , dermatology , platelet , physiology , philosophy , linguistics
Background Post‐clipping alopecia often has a clinically poor response to therapy and prolonged alopecia is a source of anxiety for some owners. In humans and dogs, superficial microtrauma via a microneedling (MN) device induces mechanical stimulation of the hair follicle with resultant hair regrowth. Human studies suggest that concurrent application of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) with MN induces more rapid regrowth of better‐quality hair than microneedling alone. Hypothesis Microneedling with PRP will induce more rapid regrowth of better quality hair. Animals Four unrelated client‐owned dogs diagnosed with post‐clipping alopecia. Methods and Materials This was a prospective study. The affected site was divided in half, with the first half treated with MN alone and the second half treated with MN + PRP. Hair regrowth was assessed by clinician and owner using a hair growth assessment scale (HGAS) at one, three, six and 12 months. Results At three months, all dogs had improved and three exhibited greater hair regrowth on the MN + PRP side. A similar response was noted bilaterally in three dogs, which had improved by 76–100% at six months and remained unchanged at 12 months. One dog improved by < 26% at six months, but had> 50% re‐growth by 12 months. The small sample size precluded statistical analysis. Conclusions and clinical importance In dogs with post‐clipping alopecia, MN + PRP appeared to induce more rapid hair regrowth than MN; however, overall results were visibly equivalent by six months regardless of method. Both MN and MN + PRP proved successful for treating post‐clipping alopecia.