Low-level light therapy and hair loss

Abstract

Low-level light therapy is a newly recognized treatment option for the treatment of hair loss. Low-level light is a low power, red to near-infrared light produced by a laser or a light emitting diode. The use of low-level light therapy in medicine dates back to the 1960s. Traditional uses of low-level light therapy include treatment of chronic ulcers and chronic pain syndromes such as headache, musculoskeletal pain, and neuropathic pain. Low-level light therapy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for the treatment of mild to moderate male pattern hair loss. Male pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men. Traditional treatments for male pattern hair loss have been limited to minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplant surgery; as well as other experimental treatments. There are currently limited studies supporting the use of low-level light therapy for male pattern hair loss. The use of low-level light therapy for the treatment of female pattern hair loss, the most common type of hair loss in women, has also been described. Low-level light has also been used in alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and post-transplantation surgery. The use of low-level light therapy has been associated with decreased rate of hair loss, increase in non-vellous or terminal hair, and improved hair texture. Low-level light therapy is safe to use either solely or as an adjuvant. Its reported side effects include initial increase in hair loss, pruritis, and increased blood flow. Some individuals have been reported to respond more favorably to this treatment. The mechanism of low-level light therapy is essentially based on increasing the hair follicle’s metabolism using the light’s energy. Increased metabolism would theoretically lead to hair growth. Low-level light therapy products have evolved from physician based products to various home use devices, making them widely more available. One should consider the type of light source, its wavelength, and its power when considering a low-level light therapy product. The pros of low-level light therapy include its favorable side effect profile and the one time investment cost. Its cons include the necessity of ongoing treatments and no established data as to which individuals specifically respond better to this treatment.