Can PRP make your hair worse? I am a 25 female with androgenetic alopecia.

Question

I started prp 3 months ago and have had two sessions so far will have my third soon. My shedding has decreased I went from shedding 200 hairs a day to 64 hairs a day. Im so happy the shedding has stopped. However my hair looks thinner and my crown looks worse than when I started PRP my back hair is also falling off. My hair looks completely flat. Can I ever regrow hair?

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

In my  opinion you need to be patient. The Fact that your hair loss has decreased means that the PRP is working. The next step will be that your hair will start growing faster and the diameter of the existing hair will thicken. If you are to get regrowth it may take several more months. If you are followed by a hair loss expert, They should be taking photographs to document your progress. Compare the photos to the initial visit. Find a PRP expert. Ask to see photos.
PRP hair md.com

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

I appreciate your concern.Overall, I think the process is working, but your hair thinning is likely due to male pattern baldness. Bes ure you're supplementing your hair with vitamins and iron. You can also see a specialist to see if an androgen blocker will help. You can also consider minoxidil foam twice daily.Best wishes.  Dr. ALDO

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The research performed and the anecdotal evidence would suggest that thickness of hair and density can improve with PRP injections.  The number of sessions as well as the quality of PRP obtained will vary considerably physician to physician.

Ellen A. Mahony, MD · Answer

I am happy to hear your shedding has stopped! Androgenic alopecia can be caused by a variety of factors tied to the actions of hormones, including ovarian cysts, taking high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause. My recommendation would be to go to a medical professional who can help determine what may be triggering the recent increase in thinning of your hair. The best results from treatment happen when you begin treatment as soon as possible after the hair loss begins because prolonged androgenetic alopecia may destroy many of the hair follicles. As always, treatments have the best chance of being effective if they are geared to the cause of the hair loss as well as to triggering hair growth. In your case, PRP does not cause hair loss, and it will help your hair follicle regain its thickness and strength by providing the scalp with rich growth factors. Continue with your third PRP treatment, and be sure to be seen by a professional who can investigate the increase in thinning of your hair. Good Luck!
In Good Health,
Dr. Ellen
 Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Anna Sylwestrowicz, MD, FRCP(C) · Answer

A worsening of alopecia is unlikely to be related to PRP treatments. PRP alone may not be sufficient to treat androgenic alopecia.
PRP is a very promising non surgical therapeutic option for patients with hair loss and can be a very valuable adjuvant treatment modality along with minoxidil and finasteride.
Dr. Anna Sylwestrowicz MD, FRCP(C)
Victoria, BC

Elbert T. Cheng, MD · Answer

Hi, and thank you for your question regarding PRP and hair restoration. If you are only three months into your treatment cycle, you may not see the full results of your treatment for at least three more months. If you are already experiencing a decrease in shedding, this is a good indicator that the treatment is working. Optimal results will most likely appear with further treatments and once you have given your hair enough time to respond to the treatment. If you still have concerns, schedule a follow-up with your board-certified facial plastic surgeon who can examine your progress in-person and make a recommendation. Good luck with your recovery!- Elbert T. Cheng, MD

Leslie Pickens, MD · Answer

It sounds like you are having good results, so don't stop or your results may stop.  You are early in the process and must be patient. Make sure you use a good hair vitamin and Rogaine lotion with daily massage.  Microneedling may enhance.  Women are usually easier to treat. Best of luck.

Joyce Davis, MD · Answer

If you are shedding less, be happy.  That is the start of the problem "turning around".  The next step is to regrow your hair. In low humidity seasons, like NY in winter, hair can look flatter.  You can use styling products (like mousse) to volumize the hair. 
Show the problem to your dermatologist.  Is there another reason - like a tight elastic- that is causing the back to break?

Ashley R. Curtis, MD · Answer

Three months is generally too early in the course of any hair restoration treatment for a patient to see significant benefits, so there is most likely no reason for you to be concerned. One of the reasons why treating hair loss can be frustrating is that each individual hair follicle goes through a natural cycle of growth, shedding, and regrowth. However, this cycle takes years to complete and not all follicles are at the same stage at the same time. As a result, even when treatments are working on some follicles, they may not yet be working on others. For example, after a hair transplantation procedure I usually caution patients that it may take as long as a year before they see their final results.
Platelet rich plasma can be used to treat many different causes of hair loss, so without knowing your specific medical history or what other contributing factors might be involved it is difficult to determine whether your results are typical. However, keep in mind that the shedding (or telogen) phase generally takes two to four months, while the growth (or anagen) phase can last for two to six years. Hair follicles will shed old hairs before they start to grow new ones, so even though your shedding has significantly slowed it may take some time before any new growth is noticeable.

Anteneh Roba, MD · Answer

PRP in most cases will help hair loss. No known side effects so far. Worse case scenario it won’t help.

Can PRP make your hair worse? I am a 25 female with androgenetic alopecia.

Answers (12)

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