Non-Ablative Er:YAG Laser Is an Effective Tool in the Treatment Arsenal of Androgenetic Alopecia

August 2021 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Doris Day, Madison McCarthy, Iva Talaber

non-ablative Er:YAG laser androgenetic alopecia platelet-rich plasma Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway Er:YAG laser AGA PRP

Studysummary This study found that non-ablative Er:YAG laser treatment, alone or combined with other therapies, effectively improved hair quality and reduced AGA grade in patients, with high satisfaction reported and no adverse reactions. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study demonstrated that non-ablative Er:YAG laser treatment, either alone or combined with PRP injections, was effective and safe for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 16 patients (9 women and 7 men). Over 8 sessions, 64-69% of patients showed a decrease in AGA grade, with female patients showing more significant improvement. Patient satisfaction was high, with 79-81% rating their satisfaction at the highest level. The treatment improved hair quality in 93% of patients, with no adverse effects reported. The study suggested the laser's potential to stimulate hair growth through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and called for larger clinical trials to further explore these findings.

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Research cited in this study

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research Non-Ablative Er:YAG Laser Is an Effective Tool in the Treatment Arsenal of Androgenetic Alopecia

3 citations , August 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study found that non-ablative Er:YAG laser treatment, alone or combined with other therapies, effectively improved hair quality and reduced AGA grade in patients, with high satisfaction reported and no adverse reactions.

Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy

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65 citations , April 2020 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”

This review indicates that most studies reported positive effects of platelet-rich plasma injections for treating androgenic alopecia, with no major side effects, suggesting it may be a safe alternative to Minoxidil and Finasteride.

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44 citations , February 2020 in “Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy”

In this study, autologous non-activated platelet-rich plasma was associated with greater hair re-growth than autologous activated platelet-rich plasma over long-term follow-up.

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research A Randomized, Investigator-Blinded, Controlled, Split-Scalp Study of the Efficacy and Safety of a 1550-nm Fractional Erbium-Glass Laser, Used in Combination with Topical 5% Minoxidil Versus 5% Minoxidil Alone, for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

29 citations , April 2019 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

This study found that combining fractional erbium-glass laser therapy with topical minoxidil significantly improved hair density and diameter in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to using minoxidil alone over a 24-week period, with no serious adverse events reported.

Comparative Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Adult Androgenic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

research Comparative Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Adult Androgenic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

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This review found that low-level laser therapy significantly increased hair density in adults with androgenic alopecia compared to sham treatments, with greater effects observed at lower treatment frequencies.

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Efficacy of 1,550-nm Erbium-Glass Fractional Laser Treatment and Its Effect on the Expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Wnt/β-Catenin in Androgenetic Alopecia

research Efficacy of 1,550-nm Erbium-Glass Fractional Laser Treatment and Its Effect on the Expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Wnt/β-Catenin in Androgenetic Alopecia

10 citations , August 2018 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that 1,550-nm Er:Glass fractional laser treatment increased hair density and shaft diameter in patients with androgenetic alopecia, but did not up-regulate Wnt10A and IGF-1 mRNA expression.

Efficacy and Safety of Low-Level Light Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Self-Comparison, Sham Device-Controlled Trial

research Efficacy and Safety of Low-Level Light Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Self-Comparison, Sham Device-Controlled Trial

31 citations , June 2018 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

In this randomized, double-blind trial, researchers observed that low-level laser therapy led to significantly greater hair regrowth on treated areas compared to a sham treatment in patients with androgenetic alopecia over 24 weeks, suggesting it as a potentially effective and safe option.

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15 citations , March 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that platelet-rich plasma combined with other hair restoration therapies significantly increased hair density in patients with androgenetic alopecia, though it did not statistically affect hair shaft diameter.

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21 citations , January 2018 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

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research Efficacy of Fractional Lasers in Treating Alopecia: A Literature Review

25 citations , August 2017 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

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research A Split Head Study of Efficacy of Placebo Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia

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This study found that PRP injections improved hair density, quality, and thickness in males with androgenic alopecia compared to placebo, with reported high patient satisfaction and no major side effects.

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This study found that PRP injections may improve hair density and reduce hair loss in patients with androgenetic alopecia without significant side effects, but further research is needed to confirm efficacy.

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