The vampire 'cure' for baldness: Scientists inject patient's own blood into head to stimulate hair growth'

Balding men would do almost anything to have a full head of hair, but the latest 'cure' might be a painful step too far even for them.
Scientists have been able to regrow hair on bald patches by injecting the heads of follicular-challenged volunteers with a solution from their own blood.
The 'vampire ' treatment stimulates new stem cells below the skin which can assist regrowth, believe researchers.

Getting the needle: Volunteer patients were injected in the head with a solution of their own blood to stimulate hair regrowth

Injections of 'platelet-rich plasma' (PRP) which have been extracted from the blood, are already used to combat ageing on the face and hands, reported the Sunday Telegraph.

In the latest research by scientists at the International Hair Research Foundation, the University of Brescia in Italy and the Hebrew University Medical Centre in Israel, used 45 sufferers with alopecia areata, affecting two per cent of the population.

Bald spot: Scientists believe the new research shows that the injections could be the 'best treatment' available, apart from surgery

The patients had injections on one half of their head. Some were given the PRP, some  traditional steroid cream, while others received a placebo.
Three treatments were given every month. Hair growth was checked by measuring the area where new hairs grew on the bald scalp.

Results showed the plasma injections led to significant hair regrowth in the bald patches, compared with the placebo and the steroid treatment.
Following the publication of the study in the British Journal of Dermatology, the scientists are hoping to develop a cream, so needles won't need to be used.
Dr Fabio Rinaldi told the Telegraph the new treatment could also help those suffering more common hair problems like male-pattern baldness.
He  said: 'We think it can help to regrow hair on people with androgenic alopecia. We believe it is the best treatment available, apart from surgery.'
Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: 'Alopecia is known to lead to overwhelming effects on the patient's quality of life and self-esteem. This could offer hope to thousands.'

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