Low laser light therapy for hair loss: Does it Work?: Your hair is a big part of who you are so when you struggle with your hair it depletes your confidence. Fortunately, you don’t have to stress over about your hair struggle anymore, because there is an incredibly effective way to deal with any sorts of hair loss issues you have been living with.
You may have heard the whole buzz about LLLT for hair loss or you must have come across an increasing number of LLLT devices for sale. Maybe you even have come across different ads of LLLT devices on the internet.
So what is all the hype for? Does it accomplish what it says it does? Because if so, then it appears to be a wonder-worker. If no, then is it just one of the usual internet trends that goes away in a week?
Let’s find that out more about it.
Low Laser Light Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that treats the thinning of hair, weak hair follicles, and hair loss.
But before diving into deep Check Our Top 7 Picks For The Best Hair Growth Helmets.
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What is Low Laser Light Therapy?
Low Laser Light Therapy or LLLT for short is a modern hair loss treatment that uses laser light to stimulate cell growth and charges the hair follicles that are weak to encourage hair growth.
This therapy is also known as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).
It combats hair loss and improves the volume and appearance of the hair, giving it a healthier look.
Who are eligible candidates for Low Laser Light Therapy?
People suffer from different degrees of hair loss.
Low Light Laser Therapy has been approved by the FDA as a hair loss treatment and shows better results than prescribed medications for hair growth treatment.
LLLT is a non-surgical method to treat the genetic forms of hair loss common in men and women, pattern balding, or simple balding due to environmental and health factors, for example, stress and poor nutrition.
However, it is mainly used to treat Androgenic alopecia, commonly referred to as pattern balding. A genetic condition that causes hair follicles to shrink and become dormant eventually stopping the growth of hair completely.
This therapy is also used to treat patients receiving chemotherapy or going through severe hair loss, for instance, women with PCOS, menopause, or pregnancy.
How does Low Light Laser Therapy (LLLT) work?
Since the therapy uses laser light, it has a fixed wavelength that can be absorbed by the hair follicles to the growth stage.
The low laser light therapy will not only terminate hair loss but also result in faster hair growth and produce thicker fuller hair.
When the laser penetrates the scalp, it stimulates the stem cells that are responsible for the regeneration of the hair follicles. This also increases the ATP production and the metabolic activity of the cells, resulting in faster hair growth.
The light boosts the blood flow in the targeted region of the scalp. Increased blood flow delivers an increased amount of nutrients and oxygen to the follicles. This helps in producing denser hair strands and gives a healthier look.
How effective is LLLT in reversing hair loss?
Low Laser Light Therapy serves the purpose of decreasing the pain of hair transplant surgery, inflammations, and the healing process.
It is highly effective and the results of it can be easily noticeable with the hair’s appearance.
However, LLLT does not work in cases where baldness has existed for many years. Since it requires hair follicles to work on, it cannot stimulate hair growth on regions of the scalp where there are no follicles present at all. It does not affect dead hair follicles.
The ideal time to start LLLT treatment is when you primarily start observing the signs of hair loss than your typical loss in order to achieve maximum hair restoration.
But don’t lose hope if you missed the earliest signs, with more advanced stages of hair loss you can still manage to reduce or end loss of hair.
Once you start the treatment, you can see the results appear in the beginning two to four months. They gradually improve as you proceed with the treatment. If the treatment is interrupted, the hair loss will resume again over the course of several months and eventually goes back to its initial stage.
LLLT works as long as you continue with the treatment.
How to keep track of the results of the treatment?
Just as no one person is the same, no one has the same scalp so everyone will witness the same results in a different time frame. However, you can always keep track of your progress using pictures. A good set of before and after pictures will definitely boost your confidence and prove that the treatments doing wonders for you.
Devices and sessions of LLLT
This therapy can be carried out in a salon by trained professionals, doctors, or can even be conducted at home.
All treatments commence with laser capping the scalp only once per day. Eventually, the session is moved to 2-3 times a week. The treatment sitting lasts for about 15-30 minutes minimum. No session should exceed 60 minutes.
If you are worried about the costly visits to the doctors then you’re in luck, most people prefer home treatments.
There are various portable LLLT devices available that the patients can use. Consequently, this treatment can be wallet-friendly.
A laser cap, helmets, and handheld brush consist of light-emitting diodes under which the scalp is exposed. Scalp treatment and massages that promote blood circulation may also be recommended as a part of the session.
Starting the treatment right after a shower is advised. Clean wet hair is still moist and this leaves the scalp generally more visible to the light than dry hair. You have to be careful and not conduct any treatment on soaking wet hair.
It is always a good idea to consult a medical professional before starting the procedure yourself and it is always safer to not purchase before-mentioned products without doing any research.
Not all the devices available for sale on the internet are FDA approved. So it is beneficial to be cautious than sorry.
What are the benefits of laser therapy for hair loss?
There are several reasons why this therapy is encouraged and endorsed by professionals.
- It is no doubt that it is completely painless
- No side effects have been reported
- It is a clean process
- It is relatively cheaper than other treatments
- It is time friendly and doesn’t require much time
- It improves hair strength and appearance
- Some of the devices are portable
What are the downsides of laser therapy for hair loss?
Just like every other treatment has its gains and drawbacks, LLLT also has a few disadvantages that should be kept in mind before opting for the therapy.
It takes months before promising results are observed
Clinical treatment for hair loss reversal can be expensive
It may not prove to be effective for people with advanced stages of hair loss
It can interact with certain medications
Though it is FDA approved, long term safety and effectiveness has not yet been established
Summing up:
Despite its pros and cons, Low Laser Light Therapy is widely considered and operated by many who have wanted to shift their hair loss situation.
Regrowth of hair is a process just like your natural hair growth cycle!
Whether it is appropriate for you or not, contacting a specialist can aid you to make the best decision and assess you in settling your hair loss struggles.