Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

January 2014

Nermeen Mohamed Abdelhalim

low level laser therapy LLLT alopecia areata hair count hair loss visual analog scale

From the encyclopedia

laser therapy for anti-inflammatory and likely insignificant hair regrowth effects

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary This study found that low-level laser therapy significantly improved hair count and reduced hair loss in patients with alopecia areata of the scalp. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study evaluated the efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in treating alopecia areata on the scalp in 23 patients (14 male, 9 female) aged 22-39. Each patient had 2 or more patches, with one patch left untreated for comparison. The treated patches received 12 LLLT sessions over one month. Results showed significant improvement in hair count and hair loss visual analog scale in the treated patches, indicating that LLLT was effective for treating alopecia areata of the scalp.

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Research cited in this study

11 / 11 results

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research Oral Finasteride Improved the Quality of Life of Androgenetic Alopecia Patients

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In this study, oral finasteride improved the quality of life for male patients with androgenetic alopecia, but it did not significantly reduce anxiety or correlate with reported anxiety levels.

research Types of Hair Loss and Treatment Options, Including the Novel Low-Level Light Therapy and Its Proposed Mechanism

46 citations , September 2010 in “Southern Medical Journal”

This review discusses low-level light therapy for androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss, noting minimal clinical evidence on its efficacy and the need for more controlled studies.

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

10 citations , January 2010 in “Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy”

This article describes a non-blinded study investigating low level laser therapy for seven patients but reports no new clinical findings.

research Effect of Helium-Neon Laser Irradiation on Hair Follicle Growth Cycle of Swiss Albino Mice

36 citations , December 2009 in “Skin pharmacology and physiology”

In this study, helium-neon laser irradiation at approximately 1 J/cm² significantly increased the percentage of hair follicles in the anagen phase in both testosterone-treated and untreated mice, suggesting stimulation of hair growth.

research Update on the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

11 citations , May 2009 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas”

This review discusses various therapeutic options for alopecia areata and reports no new clinical results; treatments may manage symptoms but do not cure the condition.

research Alopecia in the United States: Outpatient Utilization and Common Prescribing Patterns

46 citations , July 2007 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This letter discusses the psychological impact of alopecia areata, highlighting its association with increased depression and anxiety, but reports no new clinical findings.

research Use of the Pulsed Infrared Diode Laser (904 nm) in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

63 citations , January 2006 in “Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy”

This study found that pulsed infrared diode laser therapy (904 nm) was effective in promoting hair regrowth in 94% of patients with resistant patches of alopecia areata.

research 308-Nm Excimer Laser Therapy in Alopecia Areata

85 citations , November 2004 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

The 308-nm excimer laser helps hair regrowth in some alopecia areata cases but not all.

research Hair Regrowth and Increased Hair Tensile Strength Using the HairMax LaserComb for Low-Level Laser Therapy

75 citations , August 2003 in “International journal of cosmetic surgery and aesthetic dermatology”

This study found that low level laser therapy with a HairMax LaserComb improved hair counts and tensile strength in patients with androgenetic alopecia, particularly in males and vertex areas.