Platelets are small blood cells whose primary biological role is wound healing — when tissue is damaged, platelets aggregate at the site and release a cocktail of proteins that trigger repair, new blood vessel formation, and cell regeneration. These proteins are the growth factors.
Hair follicles are highly vascularised structures that depend on adequate blood supply and cell signalling to remain in the active growth phase. When follicles are miniaturising — shrinking progressively due to androgenetic alopecia, hormonal disruption, or chronic stress — the dermal papilla cells at the follicle base are receiving insufficient growth factor stimulation. Injecting concentrated platelets directly into the scalp at follicle depth delivers these signals precisely where they are needed.
| Growth factor | Full name | Role in hair follicle biology |
|---|---|---|
| PDGF | Platelet-Derived Growth Factor | Stimulates dermal papilla cell proliferation — the primary driver of follicle activation and hair shaft production |
| VEGF | Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor | Triggers new blood vessel formation around follicles — improves nutrient and oxygen supply to the follicle base |
| EGF | Epidermal Growth Factor | Supports scalp tissue repair and epithelial cell growth — helps maintain the follicle environment |
| IGF-1 | Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 | Promotes hair shaft elongation and prolongs the anagen (active growth) phase |
| TGF-β | Transforming Growth Factor Beta | Regulates the transition between hair cycle phases — involved in preventing premature entry into the resting (telogen) phase |
These five growth factors work in combination. VEGF improves the blood supply that delivers nutrients to the follicle; PDGF and IGF-1 use those nutrients to drive cell division and hair shaft growth; EGF maintains the tissue environment; TGF-β keeps the follicle in the growth phase longer. The result is a more active follicle producing thicker, stronger hair.
In standard PRP therapy, a blood sample is centrifuged to separate the platelet-rich plasma from red blood cells and platelet-poor plasma. The platelet-rich fraction — containing 3–5x the normal platelet concentration — is then injected into the scalp. The platelets activate on contact with tissue and release their growth factors at the injection site.
The limitation of standard PRP is that the growth factors are still locked inside the platelets at the time of injection — they are released gradually as the platelets activate. The preparation also contains some red blood cells and white blood cells, which can cause a low-grade inflammatory response in the scalp.
For full details on the standard PRP procedure, session schedule, and who it is suitable for: PRP hair treatment at Skinssence →
GFC (Growth Factor Concentrate) therapy adds a further step: after centrifuge separation, the platelet-rich fraction is processed through an activation protocol that causes the platelets to release their growth factors into the surrounding liquid. The platelets are then removed, leaving a concentrated liquid containing the active growth factors — without the cells that cause inflammation.
The clinical differences this produces:
| Factor | Standard PRP | GFC PRP |
|---|---|---|
| Growth factor delivery | Released gradually as platelets activate in tissue | Pre-activated — immediately available at injection site |
| Concentration | High — 3–5x baseline platelets | Very high — concentrated activated growth factors |
| Inflammatory cells | Some present — variable | Minimal — removed in preparation |
| Best for | Early to moderate hair loss — follicles still responding well | Moderate to progressive loss — follicles need stronger stimulus |
| Visible result onset | 6–8 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
| Sessions needed | 4–6 sessions | 3–5 sessions |
For early-stage hair loss where follicles are still reasonably active, standard PRP provides sufficient growth factor stimulation. For more advanced miniaturisation — where follicles are significantly weakened and need a stronger signal to reactivate — GFC's higher concentration and immediate availability of growth factors produces a more meaningful follicle response.
Minoxidil works by improving blood flow to follicles — it does not deliver growth factors directly. Biotin and hair supplements address nutritional deficiencies when they exist but do not stimulate follicle cell division directly. Neither reaches the dermal papilla with the signal specificity that PRP and GFC injections provide.
This is why PRP and GFC produce results in patients who have been using minoxidil and supplements without adequate improvement — they address a different part of the follicle biology. For most patients with androgenetic alopecia, the combination of medical therapy (to address the DHT mechanism) alongside PRP or GFC (to directly stimulate follicle activity) produces better outcomes than either approach alone.
Platelet-based treatments work on follicles that are still biologically active. They cannot restore hair in areas of complete scarring alopecia where follicles are permanently absent. A clinical scalp assessment determines whether your hair loss pattern has treatable follicles before any treatment is planned.
Standard PRP injects platelet-rich plasma — platelets activate in the scalp and release growth factors gradually. GFC processes the plasma further to pre-activate and concentrate the growth factors before injection, removing the platelets and inflammatory cells. The result is a higher, more immediately available growth factor dose with less scalp inflammation. GFC is recommended when hair loss is moderate to progressive or when standard PRP has produced partial results. Full comparison: GFC PRP page →
Standard PRP: 4–6 initial sessions, reduced hair fall visible at 6–8 weeks, regrowth at 3–4 months. GFC PRP: 3–5 initial sessions, earlier onset at 4–6 weeks, density improvement at 2–3 months. Both require maintenance sessions every 4–6 months to sustain results in androgenetic alopecia.
Hair supplements address nutritional deficiencies — they are important when deficiency is present but they do not directly stimulate follicle cell division. PRP and GFC deliver PDGF, VEGF, EGF, and IGF-1 directly to the dermal papilla cells that control hair growth — a level of follicle specificity that no oral supplement can achieve.
Yes — with the qualification that PCOD-driven hair loss has a hormonal cause (androgenic activity from elevated androgens) that continues unless managed medically. PRP or GFC addresses the follicle-level damage; hormonal management addresses the root cause. Both together produce better results than either alone. See PCOD treatment at Skinssence →
Topical anaesthetic is applied before scalp injections — most patients describe mild discomfort rather than pain. Sessions take 45–60 minutes and have no downtime.
Related: PRP hair treatment in Kota → · GFC PRP hair treatment in Kota → · Seasonal hair fall — when it is normal and when to treat →