Laser Treatment in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A 2017 Study
April 2017
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
”
TLDR Laser treatment may help with hair growth in some people with frontal fibrosing alopecia, but results vary and the exact way it works is unclear.
In a study from 2017, five female subjects with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) were treated with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser to assess its effects on hair loss and potential hair regrowth. The participants, with an average age of 53.6 years, underwent three laser treatments. The outcomes varied: two subjects reported symptom stabilization, two experienced reduced pain and itching, and two noticed prevention of hair loss with new hair growth in two cases. However, one participant felt the treatment worsened hair loss. The study proposed that the laser might promote hair growth by enhancing blood flow and stimulating certain growth factors and cytokines, possibly through the Wnt-ß-Catenin-Lef1 signaling pathway. Despite these findings, the precise mechanism of hair restoration via laser treatment in FFA remains uncertain, indicating a need for further research.