PRP-PRF therapy expands spectrum of dermatologic services at AIIMS Jammu

Jammu, Jul 19: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) therapy is expanding the spectrum of dermatologic services at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jammu.

This has become possible as its Department of Dermatology, headed by Dr Payal Chauhan, Associate Professor at AIIMS Jammu, continues its remarkable trajectory of growth, evolving into a multidisciplinary centre of excellence.

Reflecting upon harnessing regenerative science, Dr Payal Chauhan stated that this month marked the launch of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, one of the most promising and in-demand treatments in regenerative dermatology in AIIMS Jammu.

“AIIMS Jammu employs advanced, controlled centrifuge systems to derive highly concentrated platelet preparations enriched with growth factors like PDGF, VEGF, and TGF-β, ensuring both safety and efficacy. The therapy is utilized to benefit patients of various indications including post-acne scars, various causes of hair fall, and to enhance wound healing and repair,” she informs.

With the start of these services, the department plans to help a wide number of patients, driven by increasing public interest in non-pharmacologic and biologically active therapies, Dr Payal says.

Detailing about Xanthelasma excision, bridging aesthetics and clinical dermatology, she points out that PRP, being utilized for atrophic acne scars, stimulates collagen remodeling, improves skin texture, and softens deep scars.

“It offers enhanced results when combined with micro-needling or subcision.

It is a procedure safe for all skin types, with minimal downtime.

“When used in male and female pattern hair loss, it promotes follicular angiogenesis and reactivates dormant hair follicles, especially effective in early to moderate hair loss, offering a drug-free, natural alternative to systemic therapies,” said Dr Chauhan.

According to her, as awareness grows, PRP and PRF therapy is poised to become a cornerstone of the department’s aesthetic and regenerative offerings.

With a growing demand for aesthetic procedures, she says that the department now has started performing surgical excision of xanthelasma palpebrarum, a common condition characterized by cholesterol-rich yellowish deposits around the eyelids.

These procedures are conducted under local anesthesia in sterile settings, using precision techniques that ensure minimal scarring and fast recovery. This patient-friendly, office-based approach offers an effective alternative to laser or cautery methods, with high satisfaction rates.

Importantly, patients also undergo metabolic evaluation and receive lifestyle counseling to address associated dyslipidemia, reflecting the department’s comprehensive approach.

“This service seamlessly merges aesthetic finesse with clinical safety, enhancing the scope of minor dermatologic surgeries at AIIMS Jammu. The department is also performing various other Dermato- surgical procedures including ear lobe repair, nose piercing repair, excision of various cysts and benign tumors,” Dr Payal Chauhan shares.

With regard to phototherapy – a targeted approach to chronic skin diseases, she informs that AIIMS Jammu remains the only centre in the region offering both whole-body and localized hand-and-foot phototherapy—a cornerstone therapy for conditions like psoriasis, vitiligo, and chronic eczema.

“Patients are routinely being enrolled for hand-and-foot phototherapy, and for whole-body phototherapy for various indications. These services are gaining traction as more patients experience long-term remission and improved quality of life through this targeted, non-invasive treatment modality,” she shares.

Giving an account of growth of the department, Dr Payal says that since the commencement of its OPD services in August 2024, the department has catered to an impressive number of more than 21,000 patients, underscoring the region’s growing reliance on the institute for specialized dermatologic care.

Alongside its well-established diagnostic and therapeutic offerings (including chemical peels, cryotherapy, microbiological staining, videodermoscopy for hairs and nails, ultraviolet fluorescence dermoscopy, patch and photopatch tests for various indication, and exclusive regional phototherapy, nail surgeries)—the department has introduced several advanced procedures tailored to meet a wide spectrum of dermatologic, cosmetic, and minimally invasive surgical needs.

“These additions reflect the department’s vision of offering holistic, evidence-based skin care, all under one roof,” says Dr Chauhan.

In line with its patient-centred and innovation-driven approach, she says the department is set to expand its services even further. Vitiligo surgeries are already planned for patients with stable, non-segmental vitiligo, offering options such as mini-punch grafting and suction blister grafting to restore pigmentation in refractory cases.

“Further, laser services—including those for pigmentation, scars, vascular lesions, and hair reduction—are on the horizon, poised to complement the department’s growing armamentarium of aesthetic and therapeutic interventions,” Dr Chauhan says.

“With each newly introduced service – be it advanced phototherapy, regenerative PRP therapy, or the upcoming vitiligo surgeries and laser treatments- under the leadership of our Executive Director and CEO, Prof (Dr) Shakti Kumar Gupta, the Department of Dermatology at AIIMS Jammu is on a fast track to becoming a comprehensive centre for advanced dermatologic care, strengthening its identity as a regional leader in not just Jammu & Kashmir but the adjoining states,” she asserts.

By combining clinical precision, patient safety, and evidence-based innovation, the department, according to her, not only addresses chronic skin conditions but also ventures confidently into the expanding fields of surgical and aesthetic dermatology. “As patient numbers continue to rise and services diversify, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, accessibility, and compassionate care,” Dr Chauhan says.