Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Hair Regrowth in Dogs with Noninflammatory Alopecia: A Pilot Study

September 2014 in “ Veterinary Dermatology ”

Lara Olivieri, Damiano Cavina, Giada Radicchi, Vincenzo Miragliotta, Francesca Abramo

low-level laser therapy LLLT noninflammatory alopecia hair regrowth hair follicle histological analysis laser therapy

TLDR Low-level laser therapy seems to help dogs with noninflammatory alopecia grow hair back.

In a 2014 pilot study, seven dogs with noninflammatory alopecia were treated with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) twice weekly for up to two months. Six out of seven dogs exhibited significant hair regrowth, while one dog showed slight improvement. Histological analysis of one dog's skin showed an increase in hair follicle occupancy to 18% in the treated area compared to 11% in the untreated area, and a higher percentage of haired follicles (93%) compared to the control (9%). The study concluded that LLLT appears to be effective for hair regrowth in dogs with noninflammatory alopecia, indicating a need for further research to elucidate the biological mechanisms at play.

View this study on arpi.unipi.it →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

10 / 10 results

research Low-Level Laser Therapy for Treatment of Hair Loss

165 citations, August 2013 in “Lasers in Surgery and Medicine”

Low-Level Laser Therapy is effective and safe for hair growth with minimal side effects.

research Canine Noninflammatory Alopecia: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Common and Distinguishing Histological Characteristics

28 citations, May 2012 in “Veterinary Dermatology”

Different types of dog hair loss are linked to problems starting the hair growth phase and early hair cycle ending.

research Alopecia: A Review of Laser and Light Therapies

40 citations, February 2012 in “Dermatology Online Journal”

Lasers might help hair growth in some alopecia cases, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety.

research The Nuts and Bolts of Low-Level Laser Therapy

1057 citations, November 2011 in “Annals of Biomedical Engineering”

Low-level Laser Therapy may help reduce inflammation, pain, and aid healing, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and establish standard treatment guidelines.

research Effects of the Lexington LaserComb on Hair Regrowth in the C3H/HeJ Mouse Model of Alopecia Areata

81 citations, July 2011 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

The Lexington LaserComb helped regrow hair in mice with a condition similar to human hair loss.

research HairMax LaserComb Laser Phototherapy Device in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia

160 citations, January 2009 in “Clinical Drug Investigation”

HairMax LaserComb® effectively promotes hair growth and stops hair loss in males with androgenetic alopecia, with no serious side effects.

research The Use of Low-Level Light for Hair Growth: Part I

90 citations, January 2009 in “Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy”

Low-level laser therapy might help hair growth, but more research is needed.

research The Impact of Body Site, Topical Melatonin, and Brushing on Hair Regrowth After Clipping Normal Siberian Husky Dogs

17 citations, January 2006 in “Veterinary Dermatology”

Topical melatonin and brushing did not affect hair regrowth in Siberian Huskies.

research Symmetrical Alopecia in Dogs: Diagnosis and Treatment

7 citations, July 1999 in “In Practice”

The conclusion is that a systematic approach is key for treating symmetrical alopecia in dogs, but treatment may not always be necessary.

research Relationship Between Serum Concentrations, Hemodynamic Effects, and Cardiovascular Lesions in Dogs Treated with Minoxidil

29 citations, October 1996 in “Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology”

Higher minoxidil doses in dogs cause faster heart rate, lower blood pressure, and heart issues.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

in Research 828 upvotes 5 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community Low Level Laser Therapy(LLLT)

in Technology 10 upvotes 3 years ago

User discusses trying Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for hair loss and its high cost. Another user shares their experience combining micro needling, minoxidil, and LLLT, seeing positive results after 2 months.

community LLLT- Has anyone had success with low level laser therapy caps?

in Is this regrowth? 6 upvotes 9 months ago

The conversation is about the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) caps for hair regrowth. One user suggests saving money, implying LLLT caps may not be beneficial.

community Developing a Cheap Low-Level Laser Therapy Device for Hair Loss

in Technology 6 upvotes 2 years ago

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) stimulates hair growth but current devices are expensive. A proposed non-profit project aims to create affordable, 3D-printed LLLT devices and collect data on their effectiveness.

community Opinions on LLLT? Is it useless after stopping it?

in Treatment 1 month ago

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is considered expensive and may not provide significant benefits, with some users suggesting alternatives like finasteride, minoxidil, and microneedling. Many users report limited success with LLLT and similar treatments, recommending more proven options instead.

community Considering giving a laser comb a shot. Here’s a summary of my research on the subject.

10 upvotes 8 years ago

Considering adding Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) to a hair loss prevention regimen; discussing the effectiveness of LLLT, and evaluating double-blind random-controlled trials that have been conducted on laser combs.

Related Research

5 / 5 results

research BMP Signaling in the Hair Follicle Stem Cell Niche Regulates Hair Growth and Skin Pigmentation

April 2016 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

BMP signaling controls hair growth and skin color.

Progenic Hair Regrowth Treatment: The Use of Platelet-Released Growth Factors for Treating Androgenetic Alopecia by Activating Hair Follicle Stem Cells

research Progenic Hair Regrowth Treatment: The Use of Platelet-Released Growth Factors for Treating Androgenetic Alopecia by Activating Hair Follicle Stem Cells

August 2014 in “Journal of clinical & experimental dermatology research”

Platelet-released growth factors can treat hair loss by activating hair follicle stem cells, blocking certain pathways, and controlling inflammation and fibrosis.

research Fullerene Nanomaterials Potentiate Hair Growth

36 citations, June 2009 in “Nanomedicine”

Fullerene nanomaterials help hair grow faster and increase hair follicles.

research Substance P Prolongs Human Hair Growth In Vitro

8 citations, September 2003 in “Journal of dermatological science”

Substance P helps hair grow longer and faster.

research Towards a Molecular Understanding of Hair Loss and Its Treatment

236 citations, July 2001 in “Trends in Molecular Medicine”

Future hair loss treatments should aim to extend hair growth, reactivate resting follicles, reverse shrinkage, and possibly create new follicles, with gene therapy showing promise.