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Low-level laser therapy shows efficacy in treating female alopecia

Low-level laser treatment of the scalp for 17 weeks using a dome laser device showed safety and efficacy as treatment for androgenetic alopecia in healthy women, according to study results published in Dermatologic Surgery.

Researchers studied 44 healthy female volunteers, aged 18 to 60 years, who had Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV and Ludwig-Savin Baldness Scale I to II hair loss patterns. Patients were randomized to receive active laser treatment using a low-level diode laser dome (Handi-Dome Laser, Capillus) or a placebo (sham) device.

The patients in the active group used the device operating at 650 nm that contained 272 5-mW diode lasers affixed to a low-profile sports type hat. The sham group used a unit that was identical in appearance to the active group with the light sources being incadecent painted red lights that mimicked the appearance of the functioning device. The patients in both treatment arms self-treated at home for 30 minutes every other day for 17 weeks.

Nineteen patients in the active treatment arm and 21 patients in the sham treatment arm were available for analysis at the end of treatment period. Photographs were taken at baseline and at the end of the treatment.

The patients who received the low-level laser therapy had a 51% increase in hair counts compared with the patients who were treated with the sham device (P < .001).

No adverse events were reported by any of the participants.

“The study demonstrates that low-level laser treatment of the scalp every other day for 17 weeks using the dome laser device is a safe and effective treatment of androgenetic alopecia in healthy females between the ages of 18 to 60 with Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV and Ludwig-Savin Baldness Scale I-2 to II-2 baldness patterns,” the researchers concluded. “These results suggest that the emerging technology of low-level laser therapy may play a potentially significant role in health care providers’ armamentarium for the disease [androgenetic alopecia].” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The study was supported by Capillus, the manufacturer of the laser cap in the study. The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.