Are there any ways of improving your hair loss situation without medical intervention or cosmetic products? In this series, we will look into two methods that fall into this category, namely microneedling and low-level laser therapy (LLLT). But what does the science say, and how does this match the genetic and DHT discussion we have previously highlighted? Let’s dive into this article regarding Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).
Low-Level Laser Therapy
What is it?
Low-Level Laser Therapy, often referred to as "cold laser" or "red light therapy," is a non-invasive treatment that uses medical-grade lasers to stimulate cellular activity. Unlike the high-intensity lasers used in surgery to cut tissue or remove hair, LLLT operates at a low energy level that does not generate heat. In the context of hair loss, it is primarily used to treat androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness).
At its core, LLLT is a form of photobiomodulation. It involves the application of light—specifically in the visible red spectrum - to the scalp. For a device to be effective, it should ideally utilize laser diodes rather than simple LEDs. While LEDs are cheaper, lasers produce a "coherent" beam of light, meaning the light waves are in phase and travel in a straight line, allowing for deeper penetration into the hair follicle.
Most clinical-grade devices operate at a wavelength of approximately 650 nm. This specific frequency is considered the “sweet spot” for stimulating human tissue without causing damage or irritation.
History
The discovery of LLLT was actually a fortunate accident. In 1967, Hungarian scientist Endre Mester was conducting experiments to determine whether laser light could cause cancer in mice. He shaved the mice and treated them with a low-powered ruby laser.
To his surprise, the laser did not cause cancer. Instead, the hair on the treated mice grew back significantly faster than on the untreated control group. This serendipitous finding birthed the field of photobiomodulation. Decades of refinement followed, eventually leading to the first FDA-cleared laser comb in 2007 and the high-tech laser helmets and caps we see today.
How does it work?
Stimulating the Mitochondria:
The light energy is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme in the mitochondria of our cells. This triggers an increase in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the “energy currency” of the cell. More ATP means the hair follicle has more fuel to perform protein synthesis and cell division.
Improving Blood Flow and Reducing Inflammation:
The therapy acts as a vasodilator. By widening the blood vessels around the follicle, the hair receives a more robust supply of oxygen and nutrients. Furthermore, it has been shown to reduce inflammation around the follicle, which may slow or halt hair loss progression.
The Hair Cycle Shift:
LLLT is believed to encourage follicles to enter the anagen (growth) phase and remain there longer, while simultaneously pushing follicles out of the telogen (resting) phase.
What results should I expect?
The evidence supporting LLLT devices is robust, with double-blind, randomized controlled trials demonstrating significant improvements in hair counts in both men and women.
Some key findings:
Like all working hair loss treatments, there may be a slight increase in hair shedding during the first few weeks. This is actually a positive sign - it means the lasers are pushing out old, weak hairs to make room for new, stronger ones.
The 6-Month Mark:
You should not expect to see visible changes for at least 4 to 6 months. Hair growth is a slow biological process.
Maintenance Is Mandatory:
This is not a one-and-done treatment. If you stop using the device, the follicles will eventually return to their previous state of thinning.
Anti-Hair Loss Effects:
You should expect increases in both hair count and hair thickness.
The Trials
In a 2020 Korean 16-week randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial involving 60 adults with androgenetic alopecia, a 655 nm low-level light therapy (LLLT) helmet was tested. The active LLLT group increased hair density by approximately 41.9 hairs/cm² and hair thickness by approximately 7.5 μm, compared with the sham group, which showed only an approximately 0.72 hairs/cm² increase in density and an approximately 15.0 μm decrease in thickness (P < 0.001 between groups). No adverse effects were reported, indicating that the treatment was effective and well tolerated over 16 weeks.
Low-Level Laser Therapy often receives backlash due to perceived bias in trial funding and because many studies last only 16 weeks, which for many other treatments is not even enough time to begin seeing meaningful effects.
In a 2022 study from China titled “Efficacy assessment for low-level laser therapy in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a real-world study on 1383 patients,” an LLLT device at 650 nm with 5 mW output was studied. The trial duration lasted an average of 40 weeks and included 1,383 participants. In the study, the individuals who saw the greatest increases were male patients who used the device for at least one year. Furthermore, people with different scalp conditions such as dandruff, itchy scalp, and rashes saw the most significant increases in hair count and hair density. The therapy was determined to be moderately to significantly effective for 79.6% of people in the study with mild androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and moderately to significantly effective for 77.4% of people with moderate to severe AGA.
These are just two trials highlighting the promising results of LLLT.
Pause Hair Care’s Laser Cap
With Pause Hair Care’s Laser Cap, we have taken insights from over 60 years of clinical research and developed what we believe is the ideal LLLT device. All you have to do is remember to use it daily - the pre-programmed 4.5-minute session automatically turns the device off when treatment is complete.
You might wonder why some studies use sessions lasting 10–30 minutes, while we recommend just 4.5 minutes. Many of those studies use laser combs, which do not provide continuous light to the same area for the entire session. In reality, each part of the scalp may receive even less than 4.5 minutes of exposure. We wanted it to be completely hassle-free - that is why we created a cap with full coverage of all key areas, from crown to front (and beyond).
Another important factor is the total energy output per cm², which varies between devices and studies. Some studies also use a combination of laser and LED technology, which influences both treatment time and overall results. You can feel secure knowing that we have done extensive research while engineering our device. It builds on 40 years of experience in the LLLT field.
Conclusion
Buy our products.
(But don’t just take our word for it - please read, for example, “Understanding the Differences Between Red Light Therapy, LED Caps, and Low-Level Light Therapy Devices for Hair Loss” on the American Hair Loss Association’s website. They refer to LLLT as “the gold standard for light-based hair loss treatments.”)