PRP can cause temporary shedding in a small number of patients, usually starting 5 to 10 days after treatment and lasting 2 to 4 weeks. This shedding is typically mild, involves thinner or weaker hairs, and resolves on its own without any lasting damage to your hair density.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Why PRP Can Trigger Temporary Shedding
To understand why shedding happens after PRP, you need to understand the hair growth cycle. Each hair follicle cycles through three phases: anagen (active growth, lasting 2 to 7 years), catagen (transition, lasting 2 to 3 weeks), and telogen (resting, lasting about 3 months). At any given time, roughly 10 to 15 percent of your hairs are in the telogen phase.
PRP delivers a concentrated dose of growth factors directly into the scalp tissue surrounding your follicles. These growth factors, including PDGF, VEGF, and EGF, signal follicles to shift from the resting phase into a new growth phase. When a follicle transitions from telogen to anagen, the old resting hair must shed before the new hair can emerge.
This process is sometimes called "shock shedding" or "telogen release." It is the same mechanism behind the shedding that minoxidil users often experience when starting treatment. The shedding itself is not damage. It is a byproduct of the follicles being stimulated into action.
Who Is Most Likely to Experience Shedding
Not everyone who gets PRP will notice increased shedding. Patients more likely to experience it include:
- Those with a high percentage of telogen hairs: If many of your follicles are already in the resting phase before treatment, PRP has more targets to push into a new growth cycle, which means more simultaneous shedding
- First-time PRP patients: The initial session tends to produce the strongest response. Subsequent sessions are less likely to trigger noticeable shedding because fewer follicles are in the resting phase
- Patients with active miniaturization: Hairs that are already thin and weak from DHT-driven miniaturization are more vulnerable to being shed as the follicle resets
Patients at earlier Norwood stages with mostly healthy hair tend to experience little to no shedding after PRP.
Shedding vs. Something Going Wrong
The critical distinction is between expected temporary shedding and genuine hair loss caused by a problem. Here is how to tell the difference.
Normal Post-PRP Shedding
- Starts 5 to 14 days after treatment
- Involves thin, short, or light-colored (miniaturized) hairs
- Distributed evenly across the treated area
- Resolves within 2 to 4 weeks
- Coincides with mild scalp tenderness that has already faded
Signs That Something May Be Off
- Shedding starts immediately after treatment (same day)
- Large clumps of thick, healthy hairs falling out
- Patchy areas of sudden baldness
- Shedding continues beyond 6 weeks with no sign of slowing
- Accompanied by persistent pain, swelling, or signs of infection
If you experience any of the concerning patterns listed above, contact your provider for evaluation. These signs are uncommon after PRP but should not be ignored.
What Happens After the Shedding Phase
Once the temporary shedding resolves, the follicles that were reset by PRP enter a new anagen phase. Over the following weeks and months, new hairs begin to emerge. These replacement hairs are often thicker and healthier than the ones they replaced because the follicle is operating in an improved environment with better blood supply and reduced inflammation.
Timeline of Response After Shedding
| Timeframe | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | Possible temporary shedding of thin, resting hairs |
| Weeks 3-4 | Shedding subsides, scalp returns to baseline |
| Months 2-3 | Early new growth may become visible as fine vellus hairs |
| Months 3-6 | Visible improvement in density and hair quality after 3-4 sessions |
| Months 6-12 | Full results from the initial PRP series become apparent |
This timeline assumes you are following a standard PRP protocol with sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Results from PRP become visible after 3 to 4 sessions, and maintenance sessions every 3 to 6 months help sustain those results.
How to Manage the Shedding Period
If you are experiencing post-PRP shedding, the best approach is patience combined with gentle hair care:
- Avoid aggressive brushing or styling: Be gentle with your hair during the shedding window to avoid pulling out hairs that are not ready to shed naturally
- Continue your PRP schedule: Do not skip or delay your next session because of temporary shedding. Consistency is key to building results over the full treatment series
- Take progress photos: Shedding can feel alarming in the moment, but photos taken under consistent lighting help you track the bigger picture over months rather than reacting to daily hair counts
- Support follicle health: Good nutrition, adequate sleep, and stress management all contribute to a healthier regrowth phase
Each PRP session costs between $500 and $2,000 depending on the provider and preparation system. For a detailed cost breakdown and guidance on budgeting for a full treatment series, visit our PRP cost guide.
Get Your Personalized Assessment
Concerned about shedding or wondering whether PRP is the right fit for your hair loss pattern? Upload a photo at myhairline.ai/analyze to get an AI-powered evaluation of your current stage and personalized treatment recommendations.