Fractional and Excimer Lasers in the Treatment of Alopecia: A Rapid Literature Review

The review highlights the effectiveness of fractional and excimer lasers in treating various forms of alopecia. Fractional lasers, particularly the 1550nm fractional erbium glass laser, increase hair growth by improving the anagen:telogen ratio, while the 308nm excimer laser stimulates the dermal papilla to induce hair regrowth in alopecia areata. A search of PubMed and Embase yielded 434 studies, with 30 relevant studies included in the review. Studies on fractional lasers showed significant increases in hair density and growth across different types of alopecia, while excimer lasers were effective in increasing hair regrowth in alopecia areata and alopecia universalis. Despite these promising results, further trials are needed to compare the efficacy of these lasers with other treatment modalities, given their minimal adverse effects.