Effect of Skin Type on Efficacy of Laser Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review of the Literature
July 2023
in “
Skin appendage disorders
”
TLDR Laser treatment for hair loss works equally well on different skin types, but more research is needed for very dark skin.
The review evaluated the impact of skin type on the effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for treating Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA). Out of 22 studies, only 10 included participants with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV, and only 5 of these provided statistical data on efficacy based on skin type. Four of these studies showed no effect of skin type on treatment efficacy, while one showed a significant positive effect, with darker skin types experiencing faster hair growth. However, no studies included very dark skin types (Fitzpatrick V-VI), and most did not stratify side effects by skin type. The review concluded that more research is needed to understand the effect of LLLT on darker skin types and to develop optimal laser parameters for hair regrowth strategies.
