Physical Treatments and Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia

June 2024

Siddhi Bianca Camila Lama, Luis Alfonso Pérez-González, Mehmet A. Kosoglu, Robert G. Dennis, Daniel Ortega‐Quijano

androgenetic alopecia microneedling pulsed-electromagnetic field therapy low-level laser therapy fractional laser therapy non-ablative laser therapy multimodal approaches AGA PEMF LLLT

TLDR Low-level laser therapy is the most effective for hair loss, but other treatments also show promise.

The review article "Physical Treatments and Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia" evaluates various non-pharmaceutical treatments for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women. While low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is the only FDA-cleared non-pharmaceutical treatment, the review also examines the effectiveness of microneedling, pulsed-electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, fractional laser therapy, and non-ablative laser therapy. The findings suggest that LLLT has the most substantial evidence supporting its efficacy. However, other treatments, such as non-ablative laser treatments and multimodal approaches like PEMF-LLLT, show potential and warrant further investigation.

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Research cited in this study

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1 citations , June 2024

Low-level laser therapy is the most effective for hair loss, but other treatments also show promise.

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Lasers and energy-assisted methods show promise for treating hair loss, but more research is needed.

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Fractionated laser therapy, especially erbium-glass laser, effectively increases hair thickness in people with hair loss but doesn't increase the number of hairs.

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The combined therapy significantly increased hair density and was safe for treating hair loss.

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A new microneedle patch and yellow light therapy significantly promote hair regrowth.

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Low-level light/laser therapy is effective in treating male and female pattern hair loss without side effects.

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LLLT is a safe, promising hair loss treatment, but more research needed.

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Low-level laser therapy safely and effectively improves hair growth and coverage for male and female pattern hair loss.

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Low-level laser therapy significantly increases hair density in adults with hair loss, with low-frequency treatment being more effective.

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Low-level light therapy safely improves hair coverage, thickness, and count in androgenetic alopecia patients.

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Combining low-level light therapy and minoxidil 5% is more effective for female hair loss than using either treatment alone.

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Laser treatment increases hair density and thickness safely in women with hair loss.

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