Alcohol, caffeine, smoking, medications and supplements — what to skip and for how long.
Call (786) 738-9515For the first 24 to 48 hours after PRP, skip alcohol, cut back on caffeine, avoid smoking, and stay off anti-inflammatories and blood-thinning supplements unless a doctor prescribed them.
Questions about your own scalp? Call the dermatology clinic at (786) 738-9515.
We ask patients to skip alcohol for about 48 hours after PRP. Alcohol dehydrates you, dilates blood vessels, and mildly impairs platelet function — the exact cells the treatment relies on. Practically, it also tends to increase bruising and next-day scalp redness.
It is also worth avoiding alcohol the night before your appointment. Coming to your session well hydrated makes the blood draw easier and more comfortable.
Caffeine is not banned, and one cup of coffee will not undo your treatment. The reasoning behind the common "no caffeine" instruction is that caffeine is a mild diuretic and vasoconstrictor: it dehydrates you and can make the blood draw harder and the post-procedure headache more likely.
Our practical advice: hydrate well, keep caffeine moderate on the day of treatment and for the first 24 hours afterward, and drink extra water. If you are a heavy daily coffee drinker, do not quit cold turkey — caffeine-withdrawal headaches are worse than the caffeine itself.
Nicotine constricts small blood vessels and reduces oxygen delivery to the hair follicle and scalp skin. Of everything on this page, smoking is the factor most likely to blunt your results, and not just for 48 hours — it works against PRP for the whole treatment course.
If quitting is on your list, our primary care team can help you build a plan. Even reducing intake around your treatment window helps.
Avoid ibuprofen, naproxen, and other NSAIDs for about 48 hours before and after PRP if you can. PRP works by triggering a controlled inflammatory healing response, and anti-inflammatory drugs work directly against that mechanism. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the usual alternative for discomfort.
Never stop a prescribed medication on your own. If you take aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, apixaban, or any other prescribed blood thinner, keep taking it and tell us. We adjust the plan around your medication, not the other way around.
Fish oil and omega-3s, high-dose vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, garlic supplements, ginseng, and turmeric or curcumin all have mild blood-thinning effects that can increase bruising. Many providers ask patients to pause them for three to five days before and one to two days after treatment.
Check with the clinician who recommended the supplement before pausing anything, and keep taking prescribed vitamins such as iron or vitamin D if you have a documented deficiency.
Skip hair dye, bleach, chemical relaxers, and perms for at least 72 hours. Skip harsh or clarifying shampoos, scalp scrubs, and dry shampoo. Skip direct sun on an uncovered scalp — after 24 hours, a loose hat is the easiest protection.
Skip ice packs unless we specifically tell you to use one; cold constricts the vessels PRP is trying to recruit. And skip scratching, picking, or massaging the injection sites.
Arrive hydrated, eat a normal meal, and avoid alcohol the night before. Pause blood-thinning supplements if your provider approved it, and avoid NSAIDs for 48 hours beforehand.
Come with clean, dry hair and no heavy styling products. If you wear a hairpiece or extensions, let us know in advance so we can plan the treatment area.
Avoid alcohol, smoking, anti-inflammatory medications, blood-thinning supplements, heat, heavy exercise, and harsh hair products for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Do not wash with hot water for 24 hours, do not use ice, do not take ibuprofen unless prescribed, do not smoke, and do not scratch or massage the injection sites.
Wait about 48 hours. Alcohol dehydrates, dilates blood vessels, and can increase bruising and redness.
Caffeine is a mild diuretic and vasoconstrictor, so it can dehydrate you and make the blood draw and post-procedure headache worse. Moderate it for 24 hours rather than quitting abruptly.
Avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs for about 48 hours unless prescribed, since they blunt the healing inflammation PRP relies on. Acetaminophen is usually the alternative.
Fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, and turmeric are commonly paused for three to five days — but only with your provider's approval.
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