Laser Hair Regrowth

It may seem strange to hear of a laser used for hair regrowth, but this type of treatment has been around for quite some time and was discovered accidentally by a scientist testing the effects of laser radiation on mice. In 1967, shortly after the first laser work was invented that Dr Endre Mester at Semmelweis University in Hungary has been the achievement of our research to see if laser radiation cased cancer in mice. No malignancies were found, but what surprised him was that the hair has grown back a lot faster on a test area of the shaved mouse on the mouse in an untreated group. This effect called low level laser therapy (LLLT) also known as laser biostimulation, photobiomodulation and cold laser therapy is now used for treatment of hair growth.

Perhaps because of the high cost of laser technology, so, very little research has been conducted over the two decades after the first experiments were conducted. During the 1980s LLLT has started to become available as an expensive treatment by a number of exclusive hair clinics. The lasers used are large complex devices where patients still had to sit under a hood like a salon hair dryer. Treatments were carried out as often as 2-3 times a week, it was not always convenient for people who might have to travel many miles to the nearest clinic or salon. However the results were very good, and soon, many shows throughout Europe, Asia and later the U.S. began to provide treatment.

This treatment of hair growth laser has been saved as a hair loss treatment effective by numerous scientific studies. In 1982 Trelles, M., and Mayayo, E, published "The growth of laser hair Under the Influence of the beam ET-NE". In this study, patients with alopecia areata responded with positive results after only 6 to 8 treatments twice a week. Subsequent studies in lasers tested in 1990, working at different wavelengths and the laser pulsed laser configuration to find the most effective in treating hair loss. Most therapeutic lasers now operate at a wavelength in the range 600-1000nm whose length is related to how much light penetrates the scalp. The best wavelength to use is always supported more, but it should be sufficient to penetrate deep at least 5-6mm to target hair follicles. Many current devices operate using LLLT visible red light at a wavelength of 660 nm which can penetrate to a depth of about 8-10mm. Superior laser wavelength 800-900nm are used they can penetrate to a depth of about 30-40mm, but these are mainly used to treat joint and muscle problems.

More recently, studies LLLT laser hair regrowth has begun to reveal the reasons why and how laser light therapy helps stimulate hair growth. These studies have shown that laser light increases the levels of a chemical called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is known to stimulate living cells, including hair follicles. LLLT also has the effect of increasing blood flow to the hair root that provides nutrients to the cells that make up the hair follicle. The increased blood flow is also thought to help remove harmful waste that may affect the hair cycle. This helps to improve the environment of the scalp to help stop thinning hair and promote growth of new hair.

During the last few years laser technology has progressed to a stage where a laser devices can now be manufactured at a size smaller than the nail of the little finger and a very low cost. In 2000, a company has developed and patented the first miniature LLLT laser hair regrowth device using laser technology. This allowed for the first time an effective treatmen LLLT hair loss.