Please login or create an account. If you do not have access to this content, you will be shown a 30 second preview and licensing options.
- Presentation
Lasers and Lights for the Treatment of Alopecia
Description
The presentation discusses the increasing popularity of laser and light therapies for treating alopecia, particularly in non-traditional settings like scalp spas. The speaker highlights the need for dermatologists to engage with this trend as it becomes more prominent outside of medical offices. They outline FDA-cleared non-ablative laser technologies that improve scalp hair appearance, detailing their mechanism and ease of use. There's discussion of photobiomodulation (LED light therapy) and its efficacy based on studies showing increased hair density and improved hair counts in both men and women. The speaker emphasizes the importance of appropriate device selection, considering factors like FDA clearance and patient comfort with different treatments. They note potential side effects, including headaches, and share insights from pilot studies indicating positive outcomes in hair regrowth. The presentation also touches on combining treatments, notably the use of ultrasound devices, though the data supporting their effectiveness is less robust. Overall, it highlights how these emerging technologies present promising options for hair loss treatment while requiring careful consideration of safety and efficacy.
View moreConclusions
- Light therapy for alopecia is gaining popularity outside traditional clinical settings, with many spas offering such treatments.
- There is a growing trend of scalp spas, which may not always involve qualified medical professionals.
- Non-ablative laser technology has been FDA cleared to improve scalp hair appearance in various skin types.
- Evidence suggests that non-ablative lasers can increase hair follicle density with minimal discomfort.
- Treating patients with earlier stages of hair loss yields better results compared to advanced stages.
- A combination of non-ablative laser therapy and topical treatments can enhance efficacy, although more robust studies are needed.
- Patients tend to report similar satisfaction across different hair restoration devices.
- Survey results indicate a preference for devices that promote healing and hair growth, regardless of the price.
- Headaches have been reported as a side effect in some users of light therapy devices.
- User preferences include effectiveness, treatment duration, and comfort in selecting hair restoration devices.
- Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2024 Nov;40(6):e13004. doi: 10.1111/phpp.13004. Red and Green LED Light Therapy: A Comparative Study in Androgenetic Alopecia
- J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024 Feb 1:S0190-9622(24)00186-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.10.073. Online ahead of print. Photobiomodulation CME Part I: Overview and Mechanism of Action
- Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014 Apr;15(2):115-27. doi: 10.1007/s40257-013-0060-6. Efficacy and safety of a low-level laser device in the treatment of male and female pattern hair loss: a multicenter, randomized, sham device-controlled, double-blind study
- Dermatol Ther. 2020 Nov;33(6):e14191. doi: 10.1111/dth.14191. Epub 2020 Sep 21. Factors influencing the effect of photobiomodulation in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review and analyses of summary-level data
- Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology ELSEVIER Volume 262, January 2025, 113080. Effects of photobiomodulation on human hair dermal papilla cells with various light modes and light parameters
- doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.11.040. Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in lichen planopilaris
- Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2023 Nov;39(6):673-675. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12905. Epub 2023 Aug 23. Use of low-level light therapy in management of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: A case series of four patients
- Skin Appendage Disord. 2023 Mar;9(2):104-110. doi: 10.1159/000527782. Epub 2022 Dec 23. Low-Level Light Therapy and Minoxidil Combination Treatment in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review of the Literature