TLDR Laser and light therapies, especially the 308 nm excimer laser, are effective and safe for treating alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
The document from 2017 reviewed the effectiveness and safety of laser and light-based therapies for treating alopecia areata (AA), a type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune response. The excimer laser, particularly the 308 nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL), was highlighted as an effective treatment, with studies showing 60 to 77% improvement in hair regrowth. Other treatments such as diode lasers also showed promise, with one study reporting hair regrowth in 94% of treated patches among 16 patients. However, therapies like narrowband UVB phototherapy and Nd:YAG lasers had limited success or were confounded by factors like spontaneous remission or concurrent treatments. UVA-1 phototherapy was noted for its safety and significant improvement in a small study of 4 patients. Side effects of these therapies were generally mild. The review emphasized the need for more randomized controlled trials with larger patient numbers and longer follow-up periods to establish the long-term efficacy and safety of these treatments and called for a universal measure of hair growth to objectively compare different treatments.
Cited in this study
6 / 6 results
30 citations
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January 2015 in “Dermatology” 308-nm excimer laser therapy helps regrow hair in alopecia areata.
81 citations
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August 2014 in “Lasers in Surgery and Medicine” Red light therapy is safe and effectively increases hair growth in women with hair loss.
79 citations
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September 2009 in “Pediatric dermatology” The 308-nm Excimer laser is effective and safe for treating patchy alopecia areata in children.
9 citations
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April 2009 in “Dermatologic surgery” 
90 citations
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January 2009 in “Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy” Low-level laser therapy might help hair growth, but more research is needed.
63 citations
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January 2006 in “Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy” The pulsed infrared diode laser is effective for treating hair loss in alopecia areata.
45 citations
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January 2018 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Nail problems are common in people with alopecia areata, often leading to cosmetic and functional issues, but more research is needed for treatment guidelines.
16 citations
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January 2017 in “Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy” Laser and light therapies, especially the 308 nm excimer laser, are effective and safe for treating alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
71 citations
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March 2009 in “Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery” Alopecia areata can cause unpredictable hair loss, and treatments like corticosteroids and minoxidil may help but have varying side effects.
63 citations
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April 1985 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Topical PUVA can cause temporary hair regrowth in some alopecia areata patients but doesn't change the long-term outcome.
