At Cannelle Skin Clinic in Summertown, Oxford, patients worried about thinning hair often ask how PRP vs polynucleotides compares. Both are injectable scalp treatments that work to improve hair density and follicle health, rather than replacing lost hair the way a transplant does. Here is how our practitioners explain the choice.
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, uses a small sample of your own blood. We spin it to concentrate the platelets and growth factors, then inject it across the scalp. PRP for hair aims to strengthen weakened follicles and extend the active growth phase, which can produce thicker-looking hair over a course of sessions.
Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments that calm inflammation and improve the environment around each follicle. Injected into the scalp, polynucleotides for hair support healthier conditions for growth and are often used alongside PRP or as an alternative.
Neither treatment suits every type of hair loss, so an assessment comes first. PRP has the longer track record for early thinning, while polynucleotides are a newer option focused on scalp quality. Many patients respond best to a tailored course, and the two can be combined. For a wider view, see our hair loss treatments page.
Both treatments involve little downtime. Tenderness, mild swelling, or small marks on the scalp can appear for a day or two. Results build gradually as the follicles respond, and many patients notice changes after a short course. Results may vary, and maintenance sessions are usually needed.
The same two injectables are also used to improve skin quality on the face, but the scalp protocols, session numbers, and goals differ. A consultation focuses your plan on hair specifically.
Not sure whether PRP or polynucleotides suits your hair? Our practitioners at Cannelle Skin Clinic in Summertown, Oxford assess your scalp and hair in person and build a tailored plan, which may combine both. Book a consultation through our website or message us on WhatsApp, and we will guide you from there.
Common questions our Oxford team hears.
Prices depend on the number of sessions and the area of the scalp treated. We share current costs for both treatments on our prices page and confirm a personalised quote at your consultation.
Most scalp appointments take around 30 to 45 minutes. PRP needs a little extra time at the start, as we draw and prepare a small sample of your blood. Your first visit also includes a consultation.
Most patients return to normal activities quickly. You may notice tenderness, mild swelling, or small marks on the scalp for a day or two.
Hair treatments work gradually as the follicles respond. Many patients notice changes over a few months and after a course of sessions, rather than straight away. Results may vary.
Both treatments are usually given as a course, often three or more sessions a few weeks apart, followed by maintenance. Your practitioner confirms a plan for you.
It depends on your type and stage of hair loss. PRP has a longer track record for early thinning, while polynucleotides focus on scalp quality. A consultation confirms which suits you, and some plans combine both.
PRP uses growth factors from your own blood to stimulate the follicles, while polynucleotides use purified DNA fragments to improve the scalp environment. They work in complementary ways.
Yes. Because they work differently, some plans use them alongside each other for hair. Your practitioner will advise whether combining them suits you.
Neither is suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and they do not suit every type of hair loss. Some patients are better served by other options, which we discuss at your consultation.
You can book at Cannelle Skin Clinic in Summertown, Oxford through our website contact page or by messaging us on WhatsApp. Our team will arrange your consultation.
Our clinic is located in Summertown, Oxford, just north of the city centre in one of Oxford’s most sought-after neighbourhoods. Discreet and easy to reach, we offer a premium setting for bespoke skin, aesthetic and wellness care.
We welcome patients from across Oxford city and Oxfordshire, including Summertown, Headington, Kidlington, Abingdon, Bicester, Witney and the surrounding towns and villages. Whether you’re coming for routine skin-health treatments or specialist aesthetic consultations, our location is well connected and simple to access.
Our clinic, Cannelle Skin Clinic, is just minutes from Oxford city centre and easily reached by car, bus or rail. Oxford’s mainline stations Oxford Station and Oxford Parkway are a short taxi or bus ride away, and regular services link to London, Reading, Didcot, Banbury and beyond.
By car, we’re conveniently accessed via key local routes with nearby parking options; by public transport, frequent bus routes along Banbury Road drop you within a short stroll of the clinic.
Whether you’re travelling from within Oxfordshire, further afield in the UK or internationally, our clinic offers a calm, personalised and professional environment for your visit.
