Telogen effluvium. Can laser and/or PRP help regrow my hair or at least slow the shedding down?

Question

I was diagnosed with acute TE approximately 5 weeks ago. Per my hairdresser, I have already lost 30% of my hair. I did see a dermatologist and an internal med physician. All my labs were normal. They both said I could try laser and/or PRP but neither one had an experience with it working for TE. Do you know if the above treatments can help regrow my hair or at least slow the shedding down? Both of the physicians said the schedding can last 3-6 months. I’m only 5 weeks in. Help!

Amir Yazdan, MD · Answer

The first thing to double check is the veracity of your medical diagnosis, to see if TE is what you’re suffering from. If there are signs of pattern baldness or another, more severe, hair loss condition, you will want to know that before starting a topical or surgical program
As to your question, I would absolutely recommend PRP with Acell over laser treatment. PRP uses your own blood, which is rich with growth factors that trigger cell function; these platelet-rich injections contain numerous complex growth factors and other bioactive proteins that reactivate and restore thinning hair. This would promote regrowth and stop hair shedding much stronger and faster than laser therapy would.
I also highly recommend meeting with a board-certified hair restoration doctor – someone who has specialized in hair restoration surgery for years – to do a thorough examination and diagnosis with.

Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is found in your blood. These platelets are lush with growth factors, which help heal injuries and reverse hair loss. When isolated, PRP can be injected into your scalp to stimulate hair growth. PRP treatments typically take 15-30 minutes. It’s difficult to say without photos. For more information, please make sure you get a in person consultation from a board-certified dermatologist.

Mark Waldman, MD · Answer

Since you are only 5 weeks into your TE it could take longer for everything to reset.  In order to get your hair follicles back in a normal cycle the anagen phase needs to be triggered.  Topical rogaine can be very effective as a first line therapy.  
If you are not convinced of the diagnosis then a biopsy may help.  I have seen a couple patients who I thought had early TE with a lot of shedding but ended up actually having severe alopecia areata.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

If you truly have telogen effluvium, it will grow back at some point (probably 4-6 months). If there is no obvious trigger, there is not much that needs to be done.If the shedding does not slow down, the panel of blood tests and the depth of inquiry from the physician about possible causes must be expanded. There are 1000 causes of telogen effluvium but fortunately just a handful are the most common (stress, low iron, thyroid problems, weight loss, medications).Now to the most important point. If the diagnosis was not telogen effluvium but rather something else like early androgenetic alopecia or another hair loss condition- the shedding probably won’t stop until you treat the genetic hair loss.Laser and PRP are certainly options for real cases of TE that seem to not be stopping. If someone is just 5 weeks into a TE and truly truly this is a TE (and not something else), pursuing treatment is not always a good idea as the hair may improve in its own. See an expert if things don’t improve.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Identifying the stressor and trying to eliminate it can improve hair loss from stress. It can take up to six months from a stressful event for hair regrow. In my practice I recommend PRP in addition to Finasteride for Telogen Effluvium hair loss. PRP is unique because it uses your own platelets to stimulate hair growth. Platelets contain growth factors that promote healing and stimulate the hair follicle to begin a new growth cycle. This is what makes PRP an excellent treatment for hair loss.

Telogen effluvium. Can laser and/or PRP help regrow my hair or at least slow the shedding down?

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