PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy produces a positive response in approximately 70% of alopecia areata case series studies, making it one of the more promising off-label treatments for this autoimmune condition. Tracking patch boundary changes after each PRP session with myhairline.ai documents whether this therapy is producing measurable regrowth in your specific patches, giving you objective data instead of visual guesswork.
Why PRP Works Differently for Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where T-cells attack hair follicles, causing them to enter a dormant state. Unlike androgenetic alopecia (where DHT miniaturizes follicles over time), alopecia areata follicles remain alive beneath the skin. They are suppressed, not destroyed.
PRP delivers concentrated growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines directly to the affected area. For alopecia areata, the mechanism has two potential benefits:
| PRP Mechanism | Relevance to Alopecia Areata |
|---|---|
| Growth factor delivery (PDGF, VEGF, TGF-beta) | Stimulates dormant follicles to re-enter anagen phase |
| Anti-inflammatory cytokines | May modulate the local immune response attacking follicles |
| Increased blood supply to follicles | Supports follicle recovery from immune damage |
| Collagen stimulation | Repairs dermal environment around affected follicles |
This is distinct from PRP's role in androgenetic alopecia treatment, where the primary goal is density maintenance. In alopecia areata, PRP aims to wake dormant follicles and calm the immune attack.
Step 1: Document Your Patches Before Treatment
Before your first PRP session, photograph every alopecia areata patch with myhairline.ai. The AI measures:
- Patch boundary dimensions (length and width)
- Total patch area in square centimeters
- Presence of vellus (fine, light) hairs within the patch
- Exclamation point hairs at patch borders (a sign of active disease)
Take these baseline scans from consistent angles and lighting. If you have multiple patches, photograph each one individually. This creates the comparison data that every future session will be measured against.
Step 2: Track After Each PRP Session
PRP for alopecia areata typically follows a protocol of sessions every 4-6 weeks for the initial treatment phase. After each session, scan your patches at these intervals:
| Post-Session Timeline | What to Scan For | Expected Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (immediately after) | Baseline post-treatment state | Redness and swelling from injection |
| Week 2 | Early response indicators | Possible vellus hair emergence in responders |
| Week 4 (before next session) | Cumulative response | Patch boundary changes, new growth density |
Log each PRP session date in myhairline.ai so the platform maps your density changes to specific treatment events. Over 3-4 sessions, the trend becomes clear: patches are either shrinking, stable, or still expanding.
Step 3: Measure Patch Boundary Shrinkage
The most reliable metric for alopecia areata response is patch boundary change. A responding patch shows:
- Vellus hair growth starting from the patch center or edges
- Gradual reduction in total patch area over multiple sessions
- Disappearance of exclamation point hairs at the borders (indicating disease stabilization)
- Vellus hairs thickening into terminal hairs over 3-6 months
A non-responding patch remains smooth and unchanged, or continues expanding despite treatment. Tracking this objectively with AI measurement removes the wishful thinking that can affect visual self-assessment.
Step 4: Determine Your Response Category
After 3-4 PRP sessions (approximately 3-4 months of treatment), your tracking data places you in one of these response categories:
| Response Category | Tracking Data Pattern | Recommended Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Strong responder | Patch area reduced by 50%+ | Continue PRP maintenance every 2-3 months |
| Moderate responder | Patch area reduced by 20-50% | Continue PRP, consider combination therapy |
| Minimal responder | Patch area reduced by less than 20% | Discuss alternative treatments with dermatologist |
| Non-responder | No patch change or continued expansion | Switch to alternative (JAK inhibitors, corticosteroids) |
PRP costs $500-2,000 per session, so identifying your response category early prevents spending on a treatment that is not working for you. Three sessions at $1,500 each totals $4,500. If your patches show no response by session 3, redirecting that budget to a JAK inhibitor consultation may produce better results.
Step 5: Compare PRP Data to Other Alopecia Areata Treatments
If you have tried or are considering other alopecia areata treatments, myhairline.ai tracks all of them on the same timeline. Common comparison points include:
| Treatment | Mechanism | Typical Response Timeline | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRP | Growth factors + anti-inflammatory | 2-4 sessions for initial response | $500-2,000/session |
| Intralesional corticosteroids | Direct immune suppression | 4-6 weeks per injection cycle | $100-300/session |
| JAK inhibitors (baricitinib) | Systemic immune modulation | 8-16 weeks for visible regrowth | $1,000-2,500/month |
| Topical immunotherapy (DPCP) | Immune diversion | 3-6 months for response | $50-200/month |
Having density data from multiple treatment periods on the same scalp creates your personal treatment comparison. If PRP produced a 30% patch reduction and JAK inhibitors produced a 70% reduction, that data informs every future treatment decision.
Understanding the Limitations
PRP for alopecia areata is based on case series and small studies, not large randomized controlled trials. The 70% positive response rate comes from aggregated case reports, which carry a publication bias toward positive outcomes. Your individual response may differ.
Alopecia areata is also unpredictable by nature. Patches can spontaneously remit or expand regardless of treatment. This makes tracking especially important because it separates treatment response from natural disease fluctuation. If your patches shrink specifically in the weeks following PRP sessions and not at other times, the correlation supports treatment efficacy.
Maintenance Protocol After Initial Response
If PRP produces a positive response in your alopecia areata patches, the next question is maintenance frequency. Most dermatologists recommend extending the interval between sessions once initial regrowth is established.
A common maintenance schedule starts with sessions every 4-6 weeks during active treatment, then extends to every 2-3 months, and eventually to every 4-6 months if regrowth remains stable. Your myhairline.ai tracking data determines when to extend intervals by monitoring whether density holds between sessions.
Start Documenting Your PRP Response
If you are receiving PRP for alopecia areata, your treatment data is too valuable to leave unmeasured. Upload your first patch scan at myhairline.ai/analyze and begin building the session-by-session response record that shows exactly how your patches respond to each treatment.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. PRP for alopecia areata is an off-label treatment. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that requires diagnosis and management by a qualified dermatologist. Treatment outcomes vary significantly between individuals.