Low-Level Light Therapy Versus Topical 5% Minoxidil in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia in Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial

May 2024 in “ Medical Journal Armed Forces India/MJAFI ”

Shekhar Neema, Anand Mannu, Biju Vasudevan, Sunmeet Sandhu, Senkadhir Vendhan, S Radhakrishnan

low-level light therapy topical 5% minoxidil androgenetic alopecia hair density global photography LLLT minoxidil AGA

TLDR Both low-level light therapy and 5% minoxidil are effective and safe for treating male hair loss, with no significant difference in results.

This randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of low-level light therapy (LLLT) and topical 5% minoxidil in managing androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in males. Conducted from July 2021 to December 2022, the study included 91 participants, with 48 in the minoxidil group and 43 in the LLLT group. After 6 months, both treatments showed significant improvement in hair density and global photography, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. This suggests that LLLT is as effective as minoxidil for treating AGA.

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