Rashid Rashid M, Candido Kenneth D, Ibrahim Shariq, Chai Bangda, Gao Ling, Song Yanling, Wang Yue, Pan Xiaowen, Le Wenjun, Liu Weiting, Liu Zhongmin
Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL.
Precision Health Management Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Pain Physician. 2025 Mar;28(2):155-165.
Scalp platelet-rich plasma (PRP) mesotherapy is commonly used to increase hair density and improve scalp health in patients with androgenetic alopecia. While PRP therapy is favored for its lower risk of adverse effects and reduced treatment frequency compared to other methods, the potential for injection site pain remains a significant challenge, potentially reducing patient compliance and treatment continuation.
To evaluate the effectiveness of local skin precooling in reducing injection site pain during scalp PRP mesotherapy in patients with androgenetic alopecia.
A single-center retrospective study.
This study was conducted at the Precision Health Management Center of the Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, People's Republic of China.
Data were collected from 100 patients (82 men, 18 women) aged 18-50 years who underwent scalp PRP mesotherapy from August 2020 through July 2024. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A (n = 50) received local skin precooling administered using sterile gloves by way of soft ice packs for 2 minutes pre scalp nerve block; Group B (n = 50) did not receive local skin precooling pre scalp nerve block. All patients received scalp PRP mesotherapy. Pain perception was measured using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at multiple time points: 30 seconds post scalp nerve block at 2 nerve points, at immediate posttreatment, and at one- and 24-hours posttreatment. Demographic data and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule scores were also collected. Safety outcomes included the incidence of adverse events.
VAS scores were significantly lower in Group A compared to Group B at all measured time points. At 30 seconds post scalp nerve block, Group A showed a 34.08% pain reduction at the supraorbital nerve and the supratrochlear nerve and an 18.86% pain reduction at the greater occipital nerve compared to Group B. VAS scores for Group A at immediate posttreatment, and one and 24 hours posttreatment were significantly lower than those for Group B (P < 0.05). The primary adverse reactions reported were mild. They included headache, injection site pain, and scalp sensitivity, all of which resolved quickly.
The retrospective nature of the study, limited data collection, small sample size, and short follow-up period are notable limitations. Larger-scale prospective studies with extended follow-up periods are recommended for future research.
local skin precooling is a simple and effective technique for reducing injection site pain during a scalp nerve block. PRP mesotherapy, thereby enhancing patient comfort and compliance. Our study is the first to analyze the analgesic effects of local skin precooling on scalp nerve block injection site pain in patients undergoing scalp mesotherapy.
头皮富血小板血浆（PRP）中胚层疗法常用于增加雄激素性脱发患者的头发密度并改善头皮健康。与其他方法相比，PRP疗法因其不良反应风险较低且治疗频率降低而受到青睐，但注射部位疼痛的可能性仍然是一个重大挑战，这可能会降低患者的依从性和治疗的持续性。
评估局部皮肤预冷在减轻雄激素性脱发患者头皮PRP中胚层疗法期间注射部位疼痛方面的有效性。
单中心回顾性研究。
本研究在中华人民共和国同济大学医学院附属上海东方医院精准健康管理中心进行。
收集了2020年8月至2024年7月期间接受头皮PRP中胚层疗法的100例年龄在18至50岁之间的患者（82例男性，18例女性）的数据。患者分为两组：A组（n = 50）在头皮神经阻滞前使用无菌手套通过软冰袋进行局部皮肤预冷2分钟；B组（n = 50）在头皮神经阻滞前未接受局部皮肤预冷。所有患者均接受头皮PRP中胚层疗法。在多个时间点使用100毫米视觉模拟量表（VAS）测量疼痛感知：在2个神经点进行头皮神经阻滞后30秒、治疗后即刻、治疗后1小时和24小时。还收集了人口统计学数据和正负情绪量表评分。安全结果包括不良事件的发生率。
在所有测量时间点，A组的VAS评分均显著低于B组。在头皮神经阻滞后30秒，与B组相比，A组在眶上神经和滑车上神经处疼痛减轻34.08%，在枕大神经处疼痛减轻18.86%。A组在治疗后即刻、治疗后1小时和24小时的VAS评分显著低于B组（P < 0.05）。报告的主要不良反应较轻。包括头痛、注射部位疼痛和头皮敏感，所有这些均迅速缓解。
本研究的回顾性性质、有限的数据收集、小样本量和短随访期是显著的局限性。建议未来进行更大规模、随访期更长的前瞻性研究。
局部皮肤预冷是一种简单有效的技术，可减轻头皮神经阻滞期间的注射部位疼痛。从而提高PRP中胚层疗法患者的舒适度和依从性。我们的研究首次分析了局部皮肤预冷对接受头皮中胚层疗法患者头皮神经阻滞注射部位疼痛的镇痛效果。
