Shedding, scabs, tenderness and the real PRP timeline, explained by our Miami dermatology team.
Call (786) 738-9515A short increase in shedding between weeks 2 and 6 after starting PRP is common and usually temporary. It reflects weak hairs in the resting phase being pushed out by new growth, not damage. Most patients see shedding settle by week 8 and density change between months 3 and 6.
Worried about how much you are losing? Have it looked at. Call (786) 738-9515.
Yes, a temporary increase is common, and it is the question we get asked most often between the first and second session. It usually starts around week 2, peaks somewhere in weeks 3 to 6, and settles by about week 8.
The mechanism is the same one seen when patients start minoxidil. Growth signals push follicles out of the resting phase and into a new growth phase, and a hair that is already loose in that follicle comes out first. The hair you lose is being replaced, which is why the shed stops on its own.
What matters is the amount and the pattern. Extra hairs in the shower for a few weeks is expected. Handfuls, visible new bald patches, or shedding that is still increasing after two months is not, and should be examined.
Days 1 to 3: tenderness, mild swelling and small pinpoint scabs at the injection sites. Occasional mild headache.
Weeks 1 to 2: the scalp feels normal again. Nothing visible is happening yet, and this is where patients start to worry.
Weeks 2 to 6: possible temporary shed. Reduced hair pull and less daily fall for many patients in the same window.
Months 3 to 6: the point where density, baby hairs along the part and thicker hair shafts usually become visible, typically after 3 to 4 sessions spaced about a month apart.
Months 6 onward: maintenance every 3 to 6 months to hold the gain. PRP manages pattern hair loss, it does not cure it.
Small dark pinpoint scabs on the scalp for a few days are normal. Do not pick, scratch or scrub them. They lift on their own in the first washes.
Dried plasma or blood in the hair after a session is expected too. Rinse with lukewarm water and a gentle shampoo about 24 hours after treatment, using fingertips rather than nails.
Tightness, mild swelling of the forehead on the second morning, and itching as the skin heals are all within the usual range. Increasing pain, warmth, pus or fever are not, and warrant a call.
PRP is not the right tool for every pattern of hair loss. It performs best in early-to-moderate androgenetic hair loss where follicles are miniaturized but still present. It will not regrow hair from scarred, shiny scalp where the follicle is gone.
This is why we do blood work and a scalp exam before starting. Thyroid disease, iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, post-partum shedding, traction from tight hairstyles, scarring alopecia and untreated seborrheic dermatitis all cause hair loss that PRP alone will not fix.
If you have had three or four sessions and a careful comparison of photographs shows no change, the answer is to re-examine the diagnosis rather than book more sessions. Occasionally the answer is to add or change medication, and occasionally it is to refer for transplant evaluation.
Complete the initial series rather than stopping after one session, and keep the maintenance interval. A single session is a test, not a course.
Combine PRP with medication where appropriate. Topical or oral minoxidil, finasteride or spironolactone alongside PRP usually outperforms either one alone for pattern loss.
Correct the basics: iron, vitamin D, thyroid, protein intake, and a controlled scalp condition. Avoid nicotine, which narrows the microvessels PRP works through.
Take standardized photographs at each visit in the same light. Hair change is slow enough that memory is an unreliable measure, and photographs settle the question.
A temporary increase in shedding between weeks 2 and 6 is common. It usually reflects weak resting hairs being replaced by new growth and settles by about week 8.
Usually two to six weeks, easing by week 8. Shedding that keeps increasing after two months should be examined.
No. PRP does not damage follicles. The early shed is a transition phase, not a loss of hair you would otherwise have kept.
Most patients notice less shedding at 6 to 12 weeks and see visible density change between months 3 and 6, after 3 to 4 sessions about a month apart.
There is brief stinging and pressure during the injections. We use cold and topical numbing, and most patients describe it as tolerable with tenderness for a day or two afterward.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Teresa Moreno, DNP, founder of Paradise Medical Center. This article is patient education, not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Always follow the specific instructions given to you at your appointment.
Paradise Medical Center Dermatology & Aesthetics — 8364 SW 8th St, Westchester, Miami, FL 33144.
Call (786) 738-9515