Hair loss has been an ever-present problem in women, men, and even children. Hair loss, also known as alopecia, usually affects the hair on the head or scalp, but it can affect the hair on the entire body. Usually, hormonal changes, heredity, medical conditions, or simply the aging factor are the biggest reasons that trigger hair loss.
Although alopecia is more present in men and male pattern baldness is the most common form of hair loss in men, women are prone to it, too.
Red light therapy, a fairly new treatment on the market, has shown some promising results regarding skin improvement, and it is said to treat other medical conditions. But what about hair loss? Can red light therapy cause hair loss, or does this near infrared light therapy promote the growth of new hair follicles?
Let’s find out in this article.
Source: redlightrising.co.uk
Can Red Light Therapy Cause Hair Loss?
In order to understand how laser therapy works, we should first understand what it is. The term ‘laser’ stands for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation“. You should know that lasers are widely used in numerous medical methods. However, laser light is very powerful, and it can be used in many industries, including shaping diamonds and cutting steel.
Given that laser light treatments can use both cold and warm waves, in our article, we will focus on therapies that use cold waves, known as low-level laser therapies.
Low-level laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy is a treatment that uses focused light that is tuned on specific wavelengths. By having focused waves, the therapy is more powerful, and it can be focused on specific areas that require treatment.
That said, lasers are often used in medicine. For instance, surgeons use them to obtain precision while working. They also use them to avoid damaging the surrounding healthy tissue in small areas. These lasers can be used in numerous treatments and surgeries, including the following ones:
- Destroying tumors and precancerous growths
- Removing kidney stones
- Improving vision
- Sealing nerves or blood vessels
- Removing moles, birthmarks, or warts
- Reducing cancer symptoms
- Reversing gray hair
Of course, the list can go on and on. But what we are interested in here is red light therapy in hair growth. With the potential rise of RLT and red light devices for hair growth available on the market, it is said that such devices are stimulating the growth of hair.
Source: ctr4dermatology.com
LLLT for hair loss
According to the studies, red light therapy may improve circulation in your scalp by irradiating photons into the scalp tissue. The weak cells that produce weak hair or no hair at all due to alopecia will absorb those photons. So, the therapy may actually stimulate hair growth.
Pros & cons of RLT for hair loss
We believe that you should wait for more studies about LLLT before you decide to have a treatment.
Pros
However, according to the info we have so far, the treatment has multiple advantages, especially over the rest of the procedures for hair growth, and has been claimed as a new safe devise-based modality for stimulating hair growth in men and women in AGA.
Red light therapy is painless and highly noninvasive compared to the other treatments. Also, research shows that it can strengthen hair.
Can red light therapy cause hair loss? Well, we can’t be 100% sure. As with any type of treatment, there are possible side effects, but in the case of RLT, the adverse effects are expected to be mild. Still, we need more data to make a conclusion.
Cons
On the other hand, LLLT also has several disadvantages. For starters, the treatment is very time-consuming. You’ll have to spend hours and many sessions before seeing any results. Moreover, many manufacturers say that you should continue the therapy even after obtaining satisfying results.
Furthermore, this type of therapy is very expensive and may work only for people in the early stages of hair loss. Plus, the effects may vary from individual to individual, even if it is about people suffering from the same condition in the same stage.
Clinical studies
The scientific and medical communities have experts with divided opinions on this treatment. However, they all agree that laser therapy is a promising treatment for hair loss, however, more studies are needed.
According to research, we found laser technologies may reduce hair loss. The studies and examinations were conducted on men and women with androgenic alopecia.
The results showed that LLLT at 655nm improved hair counts. They also concluded that the treatment is both safe and effective, but more parameters should be investigated.
High and low-heat lasers
We believe that many people feel confused about LLLT because many companies offer hair removal with laser therapy. Thus, people find it difficult to understand how the same device can affect the body and produce opposite effects.
While it takes lasers for both hair removal and stimulating hair growth, they use a different approach. The procedure for hair removal is called SPTL or selective photothermal lysis. It uses a high-heat light laser, and it damages the hair follicles to lower the growth of new hair.
On the other hand, LLLT, or low-level laser therapy, uses cold laser light based on the chemical effects of light. This therapy uses focused light to stimulate the scalp tissue and improve its circulation.
Read More: How to Use a Light Therapy Lamp
Conclusion
Now that you know the answer to can red light therapy cause hair loss, we recommend you wait for more studies. Like any treatment, LLLT also has multiple advantages, but it doesn’t come without its side effects.
Therefore, we strongly advise you to consult with a licensed physician before making any decisions. Please, don’t rush into something without investigating first.
However, we would also like to point out that red laser therapy has shown many positive results, and experts consider it an excellent, non-invasive, and painless solution for treating hair loss.
Hello! I’m Nicky Rodgers.
Almost a decade ago, I got excited about the idea of employing alternative methods like red light therapy to create a healthier life.
To learn more about it, I did my Certified Light Therapist course from Photonic Therapy Institute and started looking into the intricacies of how light therapy influences several bodily processes. Before I knew it, my interest had become an obsession which resulted in this extensive blog.
Here, I offer countless well-researched articles to help you understand the benefits and uses of light therapy. I hope this information gives you a head start in your wellness journey.