Hair loss can be distressing, especially when suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere. However, it’s possible to keep your thinning hair from progressing with various noninvasive treatment options.
One of these is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). This uses a red light to stimulate hair follicle cells. It also slows or even reverses miniaturization, meaning your hair can grow thicker.
Many men and women struggle with thinning hair, hair loss, or balding. Luckily, several treatments can help slow down and even reverse hair loss. These hair restoration treatments include medications, PRP, and lasers. Often, the best solution is to combine these methods to provide maximum results.
Laser treatment for hair growth is a simple, painless, non-invasive way to promote hair growth and thicken your existing hair. It works by stimulating the follicular stem cells responsible for new hair growth. Known as low-level laser therapy, or LLLT, it uses red light to stimulate the follicles and increase blood flow to the scalp. This enhanced blood flow encourages the creation of new hair by supplying the follicles with more nutrients.
A laser helmet or cap is an LT device that emits red laser light. It is worn on the head for about 30 minutes a day, and it’s a practical option for people in the early stages of thinning hair. The LLLT device stimulates the hair follicles, strengthens existing hair, and helps prevent further hair loss. Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is another natural energy source for the strands that are stimulated by it.
If you have a more advanced stage of thinning hair, or if your thinning hair is caused by other factors, such as androgenetic alopecia, a hair transplant may be a better option. A hair transplant is a procedure where hair-bearing skin, usually from the back of the scalp, is transplanted to bald or thinning areas of the head. It is an excellent, permanent solution for some individuals.
However, some patients do not do well with hair transplants. Some people have a high risk for complications, and some medications can cause photosensitivity or sensitivity to light. If you’re concerned about how to stop and possibly reverse thinning hair, a consultation with a specialist can help you find the best treatment plan for you.
Low-Level Laser Therapy
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a contemporary treatment that is FDA-cleared to combat pattern hair loss by stimulating follicle growth. It’s a pain-free, non-invasive procedure that involves placing red and near-infrared laser diodes on the scalp. This light causes a photobiomodulation reaction within the body to promote regeneration, which is why it’s used for various medical and cosmetic issues. In addition, laser treatment for hair loss is gaining popularity as a non-invasive method that stimulates hair follicles, promoting hair growth and potentially reducing the progression of thinning or balding areas on the scalp.
The LLLT devices have been shown to increase terminal hair count and overall hair density. It stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate in hair follicle cells and helps with cellular metabolism, allowing for better delivery of oxygen to the follicle. It also inhibits DHT production and prevents the build-up of excess DHT. LLLT is an excellent option for patients in the early stages of hair loss or thinning hair.
It can be used as a standalone treatment or with PRP to produce the best results. Patients must undergo consistent sessions over months to get the most out of LT.
A highly engineered laser matrix that contains 96, 164, or 272 diodes. Each diode emits a 650-nanometer wavelength of red and near-infrared laser energy, which is the optimal level to stimulate hair follicles while minimizing side effects. This patented device has a long reputation for delivering safe, clinically proven treatments.
Intense Pulsed Light
When shaving, plucking, and waxing no longer bring the desired results of thickening hair, some men and women turn to light therapy as a solution. Also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or red light therapy, this treatment involves special LED devices to invigorate the scalp and stimulate weak follicles into growing hair. It’s a safe, tolerable, and less invasive option than hair transplant surgery.
You’ll sit underneath a cap or hood with 10 to 50 laser diodes during a laser hair loss treatment. The lasers send energy to the scalp follicles and improve blood flow, encouraging new growth. The effects are similar to the way a tan or sunburn works.
Males and females with thinning hair can benefit from laser hair therapy. Specifically, it has been shown to stimulate anagen phase re-entry in telogen hair follicles as well as increase rates of proliferation in active anagen follicles. It has also been shown to help normalize the physiological regeneration of scalp follicles in conditions such as androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
A common misconception is that LT and IPL are the same thing, but they are not. IPL is a broad-spectrum laser that emits multiple wavelengths of light, while LLLT only uses one. IPL devices are commonly found in salons and can be purchased for home use.
Micro-Needling
Hair growth laser therapy is a safe and effective solution for thinning hair, especially in men who experience a receding hairline or androgenetic alopecia. It boosts the growth of existing hairs and encourages the regrowth of transplanted hairs. It can also reduce inflammation in the scalp and promote healthy follicles. It is best used with more traditional treatments such as Minoxidil, Spironolactone, or PRP.
Low Light Laser Phototherapy increases the activity of the follicles by stimulating the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is responsible for cellular energy. The treatment also helps to fight the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which causes pattern hair loss and improves cell permeability for better delivery of oxygen and nutrients.
Microneedling can be performed as a standalone procedure or in combination with other laser treatments to enhance results. According to experts, microneedling boosts the effects of radiofrequency and LLLT by triggering the skin’s natural collagen-building processes. It also stimulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases that can help reduce hyperpigmentation caused by acne.
Clients who undergo microneedling often report a firmer, tighter, smoother complexion. It also supports the penetration of topical products that can further rejuvenate the skin, including serums and creams that contain antioxidants, peptides, epidermal growth factors, and essential fatty acids. Ideally, clients should also use a mineral SPF to protect the skin from sun damage after micro-needling.