Scabbing is an entirely normal part of hair transplant recovery and one of the most common topics patients ask about in the days following their procedure. Understanding what the scabs are, how to manage them, and most importantly what not to do, prevents the most common post-operative mistake: picking.
Scabs form at each graft site in the recipient area as the body seals the tiny channels created during implantation. They consist of dried blood serum and are typically small, brown or amber-coloured, and appear across the recipient zone within the first 24 to 48 hours.
The critical rule is not to pick, scratch, or rub the scabs. In the first ten to fourteen days, the grafts are still anchoring, and removing a scab prematurely can pull a follicle out with it. Even once the scab is ready to fall, pulling it rather than allowing natural detachment creates an unnecessary risk.
Gentle washing with diluted baby shampoo, as instructed by your clinic, softens scabs progressively and allows them to loosen and fall away naturally. Most scabs clear by the end of week two with correct washing technique. In some patients with drier scalps or those who are over-cautious about washing, scabs can persist into week three.
Once scabs have cleared, the scalp may appear pink and slightly uneven — this is normal and resolves over the following weeks as skin tone normalises and any residual inflammation settles.
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