Everything You Need to Know About Laser Treatment for Hair Loss
Laser treatment is an FDA-cleared+ hair loss solution that uses low-level light therapy (LLLT) to stimulate follicles and promote growth. It works the same way water helps a plant grow without harming it.
LLLT effectively promotes hair regrowth in men and women with various hair loss conditions, including male pattern baldness and androgenetic alopecia. It is safe and has minimal side effects.
How Does It Work?
Various hair loss treatments, from FDA-approved medications and topical products to laser devices, are available. Most work by improving blood flow to certain parts of your scalp or stimulating new hair growth.
Consistency and staying on top of your treatment sessions are crucial to making any of these methods effective. If you stop, your follicles return to the stage where they can no longer grow hair.
To make the most of laser treatment for hair loss, wear a helmet or cap that shines particular wavelengths of light directly onto your scalp. Just like plants use sunlight to grow, these devices help stimulate your follicles and kickstart the growth process.
While these laser devices have drawbacks, they have shown positive results in some users after 12 to 26 weeks of using them. They may be worth trying if they fit into your budget and lifestyle.
What Are the Side Effects?
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive procedure that uses laser energy to reduce unwanted body and facial hair. It is safe for most people, and results are often visible within a few months of treatment.
During treatment, the laser emits light absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in your hair. The energy causes damage to the tube-shaped sacs (hair follicles) that produce hairs and inhibits future growth.
Repeated treatments make your hair grows thinner and lighter with each session. The process also delays your natural hair cycle, which is when the follicles will start growing again.
After treatment, your skin may be red and tender for a few days. This is similar to a sunburn and can be soothed with ice.
Laser treatments can be used for men and women with any stage of hair loss, but it’s most effective for people in the early stages of thinning hair. Those with a medical condition that makes them sensitive to light should avoid laser therapy.
How Long Will It Take?
Laser treatment for hair loss is a non-surgical and minimally-invasive solution that can help stimulate the growth of new, thicker hair. It’s beneficial for women with diffuse thinning in the scalp, where hair follicles are not as dense.
Low-level laser light therapy triggers blood flow to certain areas of your skin, including the follicles that produce the hair to stimulate hair regrowth. This process, called vasodilation, can cause the bristles to enter the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.
Generally speaking, you’ll need several sessions to see results from laser treatment for hair loss. This is because each follicle goes through different cycles, and the light can only damage follicles in active growth phases.
The number of sessions you’ll need depends on your hair color, thickness and skin tone. But the average person needs four to six sessions per targeted area.
During each session, the device emits pulses of light that penetrate deep into the skin and affect the hair follicles. Some devices even use numbing gels before the treatment begins to prevent discomfort.
How Much Will It Cost?
Laser treatment for hair loss is a good option for many people, but it’s not cheap. While it’s much less expensive than hair transplant surgery, it is a recurring monthly expense that can be difficult to budget for over the long term.
Fortunately, there are other options to consider. For example, several FDA-approved medications for hair loss can help stimulate new growth.
Another alternative is low-level light therapy (LLLT), which improves blood flow and oxygen to the scalp. This type of therapy is a form of photo biostimulation and is most effective in the 630–660 nanometer range, the lowest end of the visible spectrum.
LLLT devices, such as helmets and hats that use medical-grade laser diodes, have become more popular for home treatments. These are generally less expensive than clinical treatments, and they’re also more portable.
Will It Work for Me?
Laser treatment for hair loss, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is an emerging non-invasive approach to stimulating new hair growth. It works by irradiating photons into scalp tissues to stimulate hair follicles.
LLLT is safe, tolerable and less invasive than hair transplants. It works by increasing blood circulation to the scalp and stimulating hair follicles.
In addition to promoting healthy hair growth, LLLT has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the number of harmful cells on the scalp that contribute to hair loss.
But, as with any treatment, results will vary depending on the individual. Some people may see hair growth after one session, while others might need to wait a few weeks before seeing any improvement.
LLLT should be used with an FDA-approved treatment like finasteride or minoxidil for best results. This will provide additional benefits to your hair since these drugs block the hormones that cause hair loss.