Efficacy and Safety of Laser Therapy and Phototherapy in Cicatricial and Non-Cicatricial Alopecia: A Systematic Review Study

November 2024 in “ Health Science Reports ”

Mahdi Jafari, Ghazal Bazgir, Fatemeh Sadat Hosseini‐Baharanchi, Alireza Jafarzadeh, Azadeh Goodarzi

laser therapy phototherapy alopecia areata androgenic alopecia telogen effluvium cicatricial alopecia narrow-band ultraviolet B 308-nm excimer laser psoralen ultraviolet A therapy excimer laser low-level light therapy low-level laser therapy minoxidil lichen planopilaris Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This systematic review found that light and laser therapies, including excimer and erbium-glass lasers, generally increase hair density and diameter in various types of alopecia, with particularly notable effects in androgenic alopecia but limited efficacy in telogen effluvium. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This systematic review analyzed 58 studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laser therapy and phototherapy in treating cicatricial and non-cicatricial alopecia. The review found that these therapies significantly increase hair density and diameter across various alopecia types, with specific lasers like the excimer laser being effective for alopecia areata and erbium-glass and thulium lasers improving hair density in androgenic alopecia. Low-level light/laser therapy showed benefits, especially when combined with minoxidil, but was less effective for telogen effluvium. Side effects were generally mild, including transient itching and erythema. The review suggests these therapies can be beneficial, particularly as an additive treatment for cicatricial alopecia, but highlights the need for further research to optimize protocols and understand long-term outcomes.

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