Is shedding normal after PRF Platelet Rich Fibrin

In a word, YES. Because of the natural cycling of hair follicles (on and off, essentially) when you stimulate the hair follicle using a strong hair regrowth treatment like PRF.

Shedding can often be concerning for those experiencing hair loss and it is common for patients to call or email their hair doctor during this time describing shedding amounts that are more than double their normal rate per day. You might be having the “Dread Shed!” But don’t worry, keep up with the treatment… here’s why:

Keep in mind that any regimen PRF stimulates follicles to switch into a growth phase can cause shedding. Because all hair follicles cycle-on and cycle-off over the course of your life, shedding is a VERY poor barometer for the measurement of hair loss or hair growth. Regardless of treatment, the more hair follicles you have, the more shedding you will have. “Resting” follicles may still contain a hair-shaft. When you apply PRF, for example, and the follicle “switches on” and the newly growing hair pushes out the old, resting hairshaft. The result: a shed. Any hair that is shed from starting a particular therapy wasn’t in an anagen/growth phase anyway.

Remember that PRF is a proven ‘anagen-stimulator’ which shifts resting follicles into growing follicles. Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is characterized by miniaturizing follicles and a shortening of the natural growth-phases of the follicles.

Shedding when starting PRF typically occurs within the first two to eight weeks of therapy. Keep in mind that it normally takes 10–20 weeks for microscopic hair density to peak AND six to twelve months to see visible results of the growth.

The good news is that when you compare treatment zone HMI (Hair Mass Index) measured with the HairCheck Trichometer at 90 days after the treatment and compare those with the baseline measurements done prior to the treatment, you will nearly ALWAYS see some significant improvement.