Hand-Held Laser Hair Therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved hand-held laser therapy as a treatment for hair loss, according to BaumanMedical.com. Still, laser therapy is not a miracle cure. Just like minoxidil and propecia, which are also approved by the FDA, some people respond better to the treatment than others. According to BaumanMedical.com, patients who have more hair, such as when they are in the early stages of hair loss, tend to have better results. Hand-held laser hair therapy can be performed by the patient at home.

Types

• One hand-held laser that has FDA approval is the Erchonia THL-1 (The Hair Laser). Some hand-held lasers require a comb or brush attachment to be effective. This one does not. The Hair Laser uses light energy that penetrates between existing hairs and delivers this energy to the scalp. This device is easy to use and lightweight, according to BaumanMedical.com. Because this laser is FDA approved, it meets high safety standards.

  Two popular hand-held laser combs, also approved by the FDA, are the Hair Max Lasercomb, which is for certain types of male pattern baldness and the X-5 hair laser, which delivers laser energy to the scalp after parting the hair with the comb, according to MyHairLossAdvisor.com. Both of these devices are to be used three times a week each.

Using Laser Hair Therapy

• Low-level laser therapy, which is what hand-held laser therapy is, uses “cold” lasers rather than heat. These cold lasers repair tissues by stimulating blood circulation, which encourages regeneration of healthy tissue, according to BaumanMedical.com. This site points out that low-level lasers have been shown to effect hair follicle cells, similar to minoxidil, based on a study presented at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Because hair roots are stimulated at the cellular level, this causes hair to grow back thicker and stronger.

  When you use most hand-held lasers at home, a beep will sound when it is time to move the device to another section of your head. Do not spend too much time in one area. With the comb, simply comb the device through your hair for 30 minutes three times a week. For The Hair Laser, the light penetrates the scalp without having to touch the head. You just need to hold it over your head until it is time to move it.

Hand-Held Advantages and Disadvantages

• Laser hair treatments are expensive, according to MyHairLossAdvisor.com. However, the devices that allow you to conduct the treatments at home are less expensive than committing to a regimen at the doctor’s office or clinic. In addition, it is more convenient to conduct the treatment at home. To be successful with at home treatments, however, patients have to be committed to using the treatment several times a week.

  According to MyHairLossAvisor.com, a problem with hand-held laser devices is that people sometimes tire of having to use the devices several times a week. In addition, it is sometimes difficult to know if the treatment is working. Finally, MyHairLossAdvisor.com warns that while laser devices are considered safe for home use, long-term effects of low laser hair treatment has not been adequately studied.