The "Shedding Phase" Fear: Why Losing Hair Means It Is Working
The biggest fear patients have when starting hair loss treatment is: "Will it make my hair fall out first?"
The honest answer is: Yes, it might. And that is actually a good thing.
It is called the "Shedding Phase," and it typically happens 6 to 10 weeks after your first PRP treatment. It terrifies people who are already anxious about losing hair, leading some to quit treatment just as it is starting to work.
Here is the science of why shedding happens and why it is a sign of success.
Out With the Old, In With the New
Hair grows in cycles:
Anagen (Growth): Lasts 2-6 years.
Catagen (Transition): Lasts a few weeks.
Telogen (Resting): Lasts 3-4 months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.
When you are thinning, many of your follicles are stuck in the Resting phase. They are holding onto thin, weak, old hairs that aren't growing.
When you inject PRP, the growth factors give those follicles a massive "wake up" signal. They immediately shift from Resting to Growth.
To start growing a new, thick, healthy hair shaft, the follicle must push out the old, dead hair first.
The shed you see is simply the evacuation of weak hairs to make room for strong hairs.
Talk to a specialist about what to expect
How Long Does It Last?
The shedding is temporary.
Starts: Around week 6-8.
Lasts: 2 to 4 weeks.
Followed by: Visible thickening and new growth.
If you panic and stop treatment during the shed, you lose the benefit of the new growth cycle you just started. You have to trust the process.
Signs of "Good" Shedding
How do you know it is PRP shedding and not just worsening baldness?
Timing: It aligns with the 6-8 week mark.
Exclamation Point Hairs: You might see short, tapered hairs falling out.
Prickly Scalp: You may feel tiny stubble (new growth) emerging where the old hair shed.
The Bottom Line
Shedding is not a side effect; it is a mechanism of action. It means your follicles are responding to the treatment. Do not fear the shed—embrace it as the first step towards density.
