Laser on Hair Regrowth: Potential of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Various Forms of Hair Loss

January 2017 in “ Clinical approaches and procedures in cosmetic dermatology ”

João Roberto Antônio, Carlos Roberto Antônio, Ana Lúcia Ferreira Coutinho

Low-Level Laser Therapy LLLT female pattern hair loss FPHL male pattern hair loss MPHL alopecia areata AA chemotherapy-induced alopecia CIA hair transplantation laser therapy female pattern baldness male pattern baldness hair loss from chemotherapy

From the encyclopedia

Low Level Laser Therapy →

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

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary This review explores clinical studies on low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for alopecia and suggests it may benefit patients unresponsive to conventional treatments, but larger studies are needed to confirm efficacy.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The 2017 document discussed the potential of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) as a treatment for various forms of hair loss, including female pattern hair loss (FPHL), male pattern hair loss (MPHL), alopecia areata (AA), and chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). The authors concluded that LLLT could be a promising alternative for patients who do not respond to conventional treatments or do not wish to undergo hair transplantation. However, they noted that the effectiveness of LLLT varies among individuals, and factors predicting who will benefit most from the treatment need to be identified. They also called for larger, longer-term placebo-controlled studies to confirm these findings and establish more consistent treatment protocols.

View this study on link.springer.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

22 / 22 results

research Low-Level Laser Therapy and Hair Regrowth: An Evidence-Based Review

60 citations , December 2015 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

This review concluded that FDA-cleared low-level laser therapy devices are safe and effective for patients with male and female pattern hair loss who do not respond to or tolerate standard treatments.

research Evaluation of Wavelength-Dependent Hair Growth Effects on Low-Level Laser Therapy: An Experimental Animal Study

15 citations , June 2015 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

This study found that low-level laser therapy with an 830-nm wavelength most significantly stimulated hair growth in rats, compared to other wavelengths tested.

research Effectiveness of 308-nm Excimer Laser Therapy in Treating Alopecia Areata by Examining Treated Sides of Selected Alopecic Patches

30 citations , January 2015 in “Dermatology”

This study found that 308-nm excimer laser therapy improved hair diameter in alopecia areata patients, as shown by photographic assessments and a side-by-side comparison with control patches.

Efficacy and Safety of a Low-Level Laser Device in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Multicenter, Randomized, Sham Device-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

research Efficacy and Safety of a Low-Level Laser Device in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Multicenter, Randomized, Sham Device-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

147 citations , January 2014 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

This study found that low-level laser treatment with the HairMax Lasercomb significantly increased terminal hair density in both men and women with pattern hair loss, with no serious adverse events reported.

Smad1 and Smad5 but Not Smad8 Establish Stem Cell Quiescence Critical for Transforming Premature Hair Follicles During Morphogenesis to the Postnatal State

research Smad1 and Smad5 but Not Smad8 Establish Stem Cell Quiescence Critical for Transforming Premature Hair Follicles During Morphogenesis to the Postnatal State

31 citations , September 2013 in “Stem Cells”

This study suggests that canonical BMP signaling, particularly involving Smad1 and Smad5, plays a critical role in hair follicle stem cell regulation and hair morphogenesis, with distinct roles from pSmad8.

research Low-Level Light Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham Device-Controlled Multicenter Trial

106 citations , April 2013 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that low-level light therapy significantly increased hair density and diameter in androgenetic alopecia patients compared to a sham device, suggesting it could be an effective treatment option.

research Competitive Balance of Intrabulge BMP/Wnt Signaling Reveals a Robust Gene Network Ruling Stem Cell Homeostasis and Cyclic Activation

176 citations , January 2013 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”

This study reveals an antagonistic competition between BMP and Wnt signaling within stem cells, influencing their fate towards hair germ characteristics based on the BMP/Wnt activity ratio.

research Evidence-Based Treatments for Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Summary of a Cochrane Systematic Review

40 citations , October 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This review assessed available treatments for female pattern hair loss and found that minoxidil improved hair regrowth compared to placebo, though high-quality evidence was limited for other interventions.

research Low-Level Laser Treatment Accelerated Hair Regrowth in a Rat Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

43 citations , June 2012 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

In a rat model of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, this study found that low-level laser treatment significantly accelerated hair regrowth without affecting the efficacy of chemotherapy.

research Alopecia: A Review of Laser and Light Therapies

40 citations , February 2012 in “Dermatology Online Journal”

This review discusses cases and research on paradoxical hair growth after laser hair removal and explores laser and light therapies for treating alopecia, but reports no new results.

research Guidelines for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia (2010)

38 citations , December 2011 in “Journal of Dermatology”

This article reviews current guidelines for managing androgenetic alopecia and highlights the need for guidelines tailored to Japan; it reports no new clinical results.

research The Nuts and Bolts of Low-Level Laser Therapy

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

This review discusses the applications of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in wound healing, pain reduction, and treating various conditions, but reports no new clinical results; the authors highlight the need for randomized controlled trials for serious diseases.

Evidence-Based Guideline for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women and Men

Laser on Hair Regrowth: Potential of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Various Forms of Hair Loss

Research cited in this study

research Low-Level Laser Therapy and Hair Regrowth: An Evidence-Based Review

research Evaluation of Wavelength-Dependent Hair Growth Effects on Low-Level Laser Therapy: An Experimental Animal Study

research Effectiveness of 308-nm Excimer Laser Therapy in Treating Alopecia Areata by Examining Treated Sides of Selected Alopecic Patches

research Efficacy and Safety of a Low-Level Laser Device in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Multicenter, Randomized, Sham Device-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

research Smad1 and Smad5 but Not Smad8 Establish Stem Cell Quiescence Critical for Transforming Premature Hair Follicles During Morphogenesis to the Postnatal State

research Low-Level Light Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham Device-Controlled Multicenter Trial

research Competitive Balance of Intrabulge BMP/Wnt Signaling Reveals a Robust Gene Network Ruling Stem Cell Homeostasis and Cyclic Activation

research Evidence-Based Treatments for Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Summary of a Cochrane Systematic Review

research Low-Level Laser Treatment Accelerated Hair Regrowth in a Rat Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

research Alopecia: A Review of Laser and Light Therapies

research Guidelines for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia (2010)

research The Nuts and Bolts of Low-Level Laser Therapy

research Evidence-Based Guideline for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women and Men

research The Effect of a 1550 Nm Fractional Erbium-Glass Laser in Female Pattern Hair Loss

research Fractional Photothermolysis Laser Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss

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

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

research 308-nm Excimer Laser for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Children

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

research The Current Role of Laser and Light Sources in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss

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

research Defining BMP Functions in the Hair Follicle by Conditional Ablation of BMP Receptor IA