Efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on skin rejuvenation: A systematic review

Background: With the increase in life expectancy, middle aged and elderly people comprise a substantial percentage of the population worldwide. Since aging often manifests itself in the human skin, skin rejuvenation methods have gained a lot of popularity. Current medical modalities such as botulinum toxin injection, fillers, and laser therapy can provide symptomatic relief of skin aging signs without the ability to induce changes at a cellular level. In recent years, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has been emerging as a revolutionary treatment with the ability to induce cell growth in the skin, which results in retarding and reversing the aging process. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the efficacy of PRP therapy in skin rejuvenation. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library. Articles published only in English from 2000 to 2015 were included. The keywords used were platelet rich plasma, PRP, skin rejuvenation, skin aging, skin, platelet rich plasma therapy. Results: A total of ten articles were retrieved and included for analysis. Eight studies showed improvement of the skin wrinkles. The other two studies reported improvements in the nasolabial fold. Clinical assessments were based on patient satisfaction or feedback questionnaire, pre- and post-treatment photography, and skin biopsy. The results showed a significant improvement in the skin appearance, elasticity, texture, and homogeneity. Conclusion: In conclusion, PRP therapy is an effective and safe treatment for skin rejuvenation with no significant difference in varying techniques of PRP preparation and injection.