Do Laser Treatments for Hair Loss Work?
How effective are laser treatments in restoring the health and fullness of
existing hair follicles?
You ask a very topical question. Low Light Laser Therapy (LLLT) is being increasingly promoted on and offline by both the manufactures and those who make this hair loss treatment available in either clinics or salons. Of course the big questions is – “Does it really work?”.
Over the past few years the “HairMax LaserComb” has been promoted heavily online by Lexington International, the makers of this product. Some users of this Laser Comb product have reported their experience on our hair restoration discussion forum. Generally the comments are relatively negative and the users feel the $500 plus that they paid was a waste. Some think the Laser Comb may be about as effective as using Rogaine in both growing new hair and thickening the diameter of current hairs.
LLLT is provided in two ways, either with a hand held laser comb devise or with a hooded device (that looks much like a salon hair dryer). The hooded device delivers a more intense treatment. However, with the hooded device patients have to travel to a salon or clinic each time they want a treatment. The weaker hand held device is typically used at home.
The basic concept for how LLLT works is that the low intensity laser energy is absorbed into the skin where it then stimulates cellular activity and presumably hair growth. LLLT has been used over the years in other applications such as healing wounds. Therefore there appears to be validity to the underlying science.
But does it really stimulate and grow hair? Personally, I still remain skeptical at this point. Some leading hair restoration physicians claim that it works about as well as Rogaine and that it can help speed healing and hair growth after a hair transplant surgery.
I need to do more research and present more information on the subject of LLLT on this hair loss blog and on our hair loss websites.
Thanks for an excellent and very topical question.
Pat, Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center
Visit my personal Hair Loss Weblog
P.S. The hair transplant super chain – Medical Hair Restoration (MHR) – is rolling out a national campaign soon to offer LLLT. Personally I think this is shrewd marketing as it will bring in tons of paying hair loss clients who may have at first been reluctant to consider hair transplantation. But after coming into their office each week for months to use the LLLT hoods many will “warm up to the idea” of hair transplants (yes that pun was intended).
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