Both men and women might have common problems such as hair loss and thinning hair. While heredity is a significant component, other causes can also cause excessive hair loss, bald patches, and receding hairlines. These include stress, drugs, poor diet, diseases, and hormonal changes.
It may be an early indication of hair loss if you have noticed more hair than normal on your pillow or hairbrush. Good news! There are a number of therapy options available thanks to advancements in medical science that can encourage regrowth. LLLT, or low-level laser treatment, is a relatively new non-invasive technique with encouraging outcomes.
What is Laser Therapy at Low Levels?
One type of photobiomodulation is low-level laser therapy, sometimes referred to as red light therapy or cold laser therapy. Using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the 600–1100 nm red to near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range, it stimulates physiological changes that are advantageous to cells.
These light wavelengths cause biological reactions in cells and tissues that improve circulation, lessen inflammation, lessen pain and discomfort, heal wounds, and promote tissue regeneration.
Panels in LLLT devices have high-intensity LED clusters installed in them. These panels are strategically positioned over the scalp to deliver a precise dosage of NIR light during a therapy session. Positive changes are brought about when this light enters the skin and soft tissues and is absorbed by the skin cells and hair follicles beneath.
How Does Hair Growth With Low-Level Laser Therapy Work?
The way that LLLT stimulates hair follicles and encourages the creation of new hair is explained by a number of postulated mechanisms of action.
1. Enhances Blood Circulation and Cell Function
The deeper layers beneath the skin’s surface are home to soft tissues and hair follicle cells that absorb red and near-infrared wavelengths. The absorption of light stimulates cellular activity and enhances local blood circulation. Stronger, thicker, and healthier hair regeneration is supported by improved circulation, which guarantees an ideal supply of oxygen and nutrients.
2. Diminishes Fibrosis and Inflammation
Excessive fibrosis in the surrounding tissue and inflammation around the hair follicles can impede hair development and even permanently harm the follicles. LLLT assists in removing these obstacles by relaxing rigid tissues and decreasing inflammation, making room for unrestricted hair growth.
3. Promotes the Production of Growth Factors
The fibroblasts and keratinocytes that surround the hair follicles are stimulated to produce additional growth factors by low-level laser therapy. In order to build thicker and longer hair strands, these chemical messengers alter the hair development cycle, stimulate the anagen (growing) phase, and revitalise damaged or dormant follicles.
4. Enhances Hormone Harmony
LLLT has the potential to be very beneficial for anyone experiencing hair loss due to hormonal imbalances. The light wavelengths assist in restoring hormone balance and treating conditions including hyperthyroidism and raised DHT levels, which frequently cause significant hair loss. Growth of hair naturally improves as the hormonal balance is restored.
What Is the Finding of the Research?
Numerous clinical investigations conducted throughout time have evaluated and validated low-level laser therapy as a successful treatment for alopecia (hair loss).
Alopecic patients’ hair growth was initially shown to be stimulated by LLLT in a preliminary trial conducted in 2007. Subsequently, in 2009, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial confirmed that laser therapy resulted in comparable hair growth with enhanced density and terminal hair counts.
It was determined by a review published in 2014 that LLLT is “effective and safe for hair growth in both men and women and all skin types” after it compiled data from several randomised controlled studies. After five months of treatment, the analysis showed an average growth of 18.21 hairs per cm2.
A different meta-analysis conducted in 2015 likewise supported the notion that photobiomodulation using LLLT devices was a viable non-invasive treatment for androgenetic alopecia in both men and women.
The Advantages of Low-Level Laser Therapy
When all other options for hair regrowth have failed, it’s time to consider low-level laser therapy. It’s fully safe and appropriate for long-term use, unlike pharmaceuticals.
The numerous benefits of LLLT are as follows:
Suitable for both men and women, it is non-invasive, painless, and has no significant side effects. It works well on all skin tones and hair kinds, and there is no recovery period or need for extra care. Long-term and continuous use is safe; it can be combined with other therapies like PRP and medicines.
For Whom Is Low-Level Laser Therapy Beneficial?
For different kinds and stages of alopecia or problems with hair thinning, low-level laser therapy is effective. Men and women alike should think about LLLT if they possess:
• Traction alopecia from tight hairstyles;
• Androgenetic alopecia, or female/male pattern baldness;
• Alopecia areata patches;
• Diffuse hair shedding associated with high stress levels;
• Hair loss from hormonal disorders like thyroid imbalance or PCOS;
• Hair thinning from nutritional deficiencies or medications
Further research is being conducted to further establish efficacy across other types of hair loss, even though outcomes for cases of androgenetic alopecia are encouraging.
How Can Low-Level Laser Therapy Be Initiated?
Speak with a licenced dermatologist or hair restoration specialist before using LLLT to increase the density and renewal of your hair. After evaluating your case and determining the underlying causes, they will provide a personalised treatment plan that includes the optimal number of LLLT sessions per week and the length of treatment.
You only need to comfortably sit under the red light panel for 15 to 30 minutes each laser therapy session, depending on the area being treated and the equipment being used. Reading, using your laptop, listening to music, or just unwinding is all possible during the painless sessions.
If necessary later on, maintenance appointments are often set up once a month. To achieve the finest hair regrowth outcomes, exercise patience and rigorously attend all scheduled appointments.
In-clinic versus at-home low-level laser therapy
Low-level laser equipment is now accessible for both at-home and in-clinic use. However, clinics provide more sophisticated equipment and intense therapy appropriate for patients with moderate to severe hair loss. The ideal wavelength, density, and light energy levels are delivered by the laser diodes in order to more successfully stimulate hair follicles.
But devices for home usage are less expensive and provide the convenience of shorter, more frequent LLLT sessions. using ongoing daily or every other day therapy, users can enhance in-clinic hair regeneration treatments using portable caps and combs. These practical household tools might promote healthy regrowth if hair loss is still mild to moderate.
Are the Outcomes Lasting? How About Upkeep?
The majority of users have prolonged benefits from low-level laser therapy, such as improved density and resumed growth, following the completion of the initial treatment phase. However, continuing regular maintenance sessions is essential to ensuring that improvements are more durable and long-lasting.
Hair follicles are stimulated to enter and stay in the developing anagen phase during active treatment. However, with time, their growth cycle begins to revert to the telogen phase of shedding. Frequent maintenance sessions guarantee that follicles receive the precise amount of laser light needed to continue growing actively for extended periods of time.
Long after the initial, rigorous, three to six month LLLT treatment regimen is finished, monthly maintenance is ideally advised by doctors. This preserves and steadies advancements made previously. Users frequently experience acceptable hair growth for years before needing to resume treatment with careful long-term maintenance.
Finally
A contemporary, non-invasive method for effectively stimulating hair follicles and addressing hair loss concerns is low-level laser therapy. The wavelengths of red and near-infrared light reverse the process of hair follicle miniaturisation, reduce inflammation, enhance blood circulation, and establish an environment that is conducive to unfettered hair renewal.
Numerous patient testimonies and clinical studies support low-level laser treatment as a safe option for noticeable increases in hair growth and density. It also works well for all skin types and has no serious negative effects. When used in conjunction with other treatments like prescription drugs or PRP therapy, patients frequently experience faster and more effective hair regrowth.
Now is the perfect moment to investigate low-level laser therapy if you’re searching for a secure, non-invasive solution for your hair loss issues. To maximise your benefits, however, keep in mind that you should set reasonable goals and dedicate yourself to the full prescribed treatment length, including maintenance sessions. A low-level laser can gradually improve the condition, look, and confidence of your hair. I sincerely hope you find this “How Can Low-Level Laser Therapy Help with Hair Regrowth?” article helpful.
