Hair Loss Solution: Laser Hair Therapy
Hair loss can often be an undesirable aspect of life. Fortunately, with recent advances in technology, there are several treatments that may reduce, prevent, or even reverse hair loss. Low-level laser energy has been found to stimulate hair growth on the scalp to improve hair quality, stop the progression of hair loss, and even promote new hair growth.
Although surgical hair transplantation is the only permanent solution for hereditary hair loss in both men and women, LLLT therapy offers help by rejuvenating hair as well to strengthen weak, anemic hair to assist in the fight against dihydrotestosterone “DHT”.
Hair Growth
Before learning about laser hair therapy to reinvigorate hair growth, it is important to understand how hair grows. Hair follicles extend through both the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin and are responsible for producing hair. Projecting into the base of each hair follicle is a structure called the dermal papilla, which is composed of rapidly dividing cells and small blood vessels. These cells are packed together in the hair follicle to create a new hair shaft, which pushes out and replaces the old hair shaft after it has become detached from the dermal papilla.
Follicle Miniaturization
Typically, about 90% of hair follicles are actively growing new hair; however, with the onset of hair thinning, this percentage drops to 80% or less. This decrease in the number of follicles producing new hair coincides with an increased level of a hormone known as dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT disrupts the normal hair cycle, causing hair follicles to miniaturize and consequently produce the shorter, weaker hair that is characteristic of thinning hair. In the continued presence of DHT, hair follicles may keep shrinking until they no longer produce hair and permanent baldness results. However, if hair follicles are stimulated in earlier stages of miniaturization, they may regain size and return to producing strong, thick hair.
How LLLT Works
The LLLT is designed to stimulate miniaturized hair follicles with low-level laser energy. A laser concentrates light waves of a specific energy into a beam of colored light. Humans can see a range of energy as colored light, known as the visible light spectrum. The LLLT unit emits light from the red end of this spectrum, which has been proven to stimulate body tissues to increase cellular energy. This increase in energy enhances cellular processes such as growth and eliminating waste. It may also reduce the inflammation surrounding miniaturized hair follicles, allowing these follicles to take in more nutrients and restore their normal size. LLLT unit stimulates hair follicles in transitional and resting phases of the growth cycle to complete these phases more rapidly. Once these phases are complete, the hair follicles are available to take part in an actively growing phase, which is stimulated to produce thicker, fuller, shinier, and healthier looking hair.
Powerful, low level light energy increases blood flow to the scalp and hair follicle
Light penetrates into the scalp tissue where it stimulates microcirculation, improves cellular metabolism and protein synthesis
Reduces the effects of protein blocking DHT enzymes, promoting thickness and density
Benefits of Low level Light Therapy
Slows the rate of hair loss
Increases thickness and density
Repairs and improved hair shaft quality
More manageability, more vibrant color
Often used in combination with hair transplantation to accelerate healing, reduce redness and decrease discomfort; encouraging transplanted hairs to grow faster.
