When it comes to red light therapy, it’s important to know that light is more than “just” light. “Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of low-level light to stimulate cellular activity in the scalp,” says Mona Mislankar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the owner of Cincinnati Skin Center in Cincinnati.
RLT may do this by increasing blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles, a process that, in theory, promotes growth factors that support follicle regeneration, Dr. Mislankar says. The therapy may do this by prolonging the growth phase of the hair cycle, as well as reducing inflammation that may contribute to thinning, she explains. That said, this is not believed to be a permanent fix, and you need ongoing treatment to maintain results.
One systematic review and meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials reflects these results. In the review, researchers analyzed the effects of LLLT on pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) and found that these devices could improve hair density for men and women with this type of hair loss. Researchers point out several limitations, including smaller sample sizes, short-term trials, and different LLLT protocols, which can affect the results. Another issue with the research is that some of these trials were industry-funded, which could be a source of bias. “More research that is non-industry based is always ideal,” Mislankar says. Research involving larger sample sizes would help solidify the conclusions, she says.
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