A single injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) brought complete remission to most patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis in a study published in Cureus by Kauhl, Pototschnig, and Paasch, covered by Dermatology Advisor in 2021. Researchers treated 40 adults, 30 with plaque psoriasis and 10 with atopic dermatitis, with one 5-6 mL PRP injection, then followed them for 12 weeks. Eighty percent of the psoriasis patients and half of the atopic dermatitis patients reached complete remission, and the rest reached at least a 70% improvement on standard severity scores. No adverse events were reported.
Among the psoriasis group, most commonly treated on the elbow, average lesion size fell from 8.2 cm² to 0.3 cm² by 12 weeks; researchers also tracked the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Among the atopic dermatitis group, average lesion size fell from 8 cm² to 0.155 cm² by 12 weeks; researchers also tracked the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI).
The study authors noted several limitations: the study used an open-label, single-arm design with a small sample and only 12 weeks of follow-up.
Dermatology Advisor covered the study in more depth, including the researchers' discussion of where PRP fits among existing treatment options. Read Dermatology Advisor's full coverage of the study.
The original article, Can Platelet-Rich Plasma Reduce the Burden of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Such as Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis?, is available on Cureus.
*This post was drafted with AI assistance and edited by our team before publishing.