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Presentation

Therapeutic Efficacy of Lasers, Photobiomodulation, and PRP in Hair Loss

Description

The talk reviewed the therapeutic evidence for lasers, photobiomodulation (PBM/low-level light therapy), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in different types of hair loss. For androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the strongest laser data involved water-targeting devices such as fractional CO2 and erbium glass lasers, often used alongside standard treatments like minoxidil, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and PRP. In alopecia areata, fractional CO2 and excimer lasers appeared most effective, especially when combined with topical steroids, minoxidil, intralesional corticosteroids, or other local therapies. Data for scarring alopecias were limited, but some promising reports existed, including a split-scalp study in central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia showing regrowth after CO2 treatment. PBM/red light devices were described as effective for AGA, with emerging but still limited evidence in scarring alopecias and little benefit for telogen effluvium; some benefit was also noted in chemotherapy-induced alopecia. PRP was presented as helpful for AGA and moderately helpful for alopecia areata, particularly mild or focal cases, but its study is complicated by lack of protocol standardization. Overall, the speaker emphasized that these modalities may be useful adjuncts to established medical treatments, while highlighting the need for better data on device output and PRP preparation protocols, especially in scarring alopecias.

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Conclusions

Lasers appear to be most useful as adjunctive therapy, with the strongest evidence in androgenetic alopecia and some benefit in alopecia areata when combined with standard medical treatments.
In androgenetic alopecia, the laser types with the best evidence are those that target water, especially fractional CO2 and erbium-based wavelengths.
Evidence for lasers in scarring alopecias is still limited, but fractional CO2 and some 1550 nm nonablative devices show the most promise, particularly in CCCA.
Low-level light therapy or photobiomodulation is effective for androgenetic alopecia and may also help some scarring alopecias, though the scarring data remain small and emerging.
Photobiomodulation does not appear to help telogen effluvium, while limited data suggest possible benefit in chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
PRP is supported by the strongest evidence in androgenetic alopecia, where it improves hair thickness and reduces telogen hair counts in many studies.
PRP may provide benefit in mild to moderate alopecia areata, especially focal patch disease, but the results are less consistent than in androgenetic alopecia.
PRP may be helpful in some scarring alopecias, particularly LPP and possibly CCCA, but the evidence base is still sparse and mixed.
A major limitation in PRP research is the lack of standardized preparation and injection protocols, making it difficult to define an ideal regimen.
Overall, these modalities seem most promising when used as add-on treatments rather than stand-alone therapies, and more standardized research is needed before broader recommendations can be made.

Belair, Ugoh, Ozog, and Fakhoury. Review of lasers in alopecia.
Anita E, Tierno R, Alkhraisat MH. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb), 2025.
References slide with six academic citations on low-level laser/LED therapy, red-light devices, and platelet-rich plasma.
2024 Journal of Drugs in Dermatology review on PRP in scarring alopecias.