Hair loss and thinning are all part of getting older, but you don’t have to resign yourself to the fact that your luscious locks are a distant memory of youth.
Advancements mean there are plenty of treatment options for the nearly 1 in 2 Caucasian Aussie men who will experience male pattern baldness in their 40s [1].
You might have heard of red light therapy, as it’s often used as a skin treatment for addressing wrinkles, scars, and acne. But what about it being used on your dome to support hair growth?
In today’s guide, we’re going to find out what red light therapy is and whether it has the potential to turn back the clock and return your hair to your head.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy — also known as low-level laser therapy — uses LED lights to treat a range of skin conditions.
There's also some evidence that it can support hair growth. Since common male pattern baldness accounts for 95% of male hair loss, many have turned to it as a potential breakthrough [2].
But does that make it something out of science fiction? Before you start thinking about Star Wars, there are no actual lasers, only LED lights, which are the same things found in most homes.
Red light therapy devices produce red light, with wavelengths ranging from 630 to 700 nm. It’s the same light found in sunlight but contains none of the UV rays responsible for damaging your cells and causing cancer.
The light penetrates your scalp to boost blood flow and improve cell function. In other words, it encourages hair production.
How does red light therapy work for hair growth?
NASA originally studied red light therapy to treat wounds in astronauts in space. Studies have shown that red light penetrates the skin and stimulates the cytochrome c oxidase enzyme [3]. But how does that relate to hair growth?
Cytochrome c oxidase lives in the mitochondria of your cells. By activating them through red light therapy, the mitochondria start producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the primary energy source of your cells [4].
The theory goes that by activating this process in your scalp, you’re boosting the energy and blood flow in your hair follicles.
With that extra boost to your hair follicles, you’re supporting your hair to come in faster and thicker. Or at least, that’s the theory.
Can red light therapy help with hair loss?
The short answer is maybe.
Some studies have shown that red light therapy supports hair growth. In one study examining women experiencing hair loss, red light LED therapy increased hair growth by 37%, relative to the placebo group [5].
Another study examining men followed similar lines, with a reported 35% increase in hair growth compared to the placebo group [6].
Other investigations have proven even more fruitful, with a 51% increase in hair production among a group of women with androgenetic alopecia or female pattern hair loss [7]. The downside is that this study, like the other studies, only examined a small number of subjects.
Although some hair clinics have cherrypicked these studies, it’s important to mention that others haven’t had the same success. For example, one study saw 27% of people experience no change in new hair growth, whereas only 16.2% showed excellent growth [8].
To conclude, red light therapy might help some people with hair loss, but there are no guarantees.
Does red light therapy block DHT?
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is one of the demons of hair loss. Elevating DHT levels can shrink your hair follicles and slash your usual hair growth cycle, leading to hair loss.
It’s not the only reason for hair loss, with genetic factors also being a factor, but large amounts of DHT don’t help.
Red light therapy has no impact on DHT. If you’ve visited a medical practitioner and found that DHT is partially causing hair loss, red light therapy alone isn’t going to solve the problem.
Instead, you might turn to medical treatment to control DHT production, including Pilot’s hair loss treatment, to slow your hair loss.
How long does it take to see results?
Exposure to a few drops of red light won’t give you back your hair. Successful red light therapy requires consistent sessions over long periods.
Although there’s not much evidence pointing to a specific number of sessions, studies that did show results generally involved patients going through red light therapy 3-5 times a week.
It’s always recommended that you get red light therapy done at a clinic, as the tools they use are considerably more powerful.
Eventually, top-up treatments at home are possible, but for the best shot of red light therapy working, get in touch with a professional near you.
Potential risks of red light therapy for hair loss
Red light therapy comes with minimal side effects because it uses the same natural light we get when we put on our sunnies and head outside. The difference is you don’t get any of the harmful UV rays.
Overall, no serious side effects have been documented from red light therapy. Since it relies on light-emitting diodes (LEDs), there’s minimal heat, so there’s no need to worry about burning your scalp or changing your hair colour.
Generally, the most you have to worry about is some temporary itchiness in your scalp.
Alternative hair loss treatments
Red light therapy is just one of many hair loss treatments people use. Typically, it’s best to assess your options, and the way to start is by working with a hair loss specialist who can provide some recommendations.
Here are some of the most popular ways to begin tackling your hair loss head-on.
Track your hair
Understanding your hair is the first step to deciding what happens next. Believe it or not, some people believe they’re experiencing hair loss, but it’s actually just where their natural hairline sits.
Either way, hair loss tracking is a good practice for establishing a baseline so you can also tell whether a particular hair loss treatment option works.
Boost your scalp health
Your hair loss might just require changing up your hair care. According to some studies, hair loss can result from poor scalp health and actually has nothing to do with issues like pattern baldness [9].
Here’s how your scalp health could be damaging your hair:
- Itching – Regular scratching from an itchy scalp could break your hair.
- Oxidative stress – Oxidative stress increases the brittleness of your hair, making it likelier it will fall out.
- Allergies – Sometimes, it’s the hair care products you’re using. If you have an allergic reaction, your follicles could be damaged.
- Infections – Fungal infections, including ringworm, have side effects that damage your hair follicles.
Ensure that you’re keeping your hair clean and that your scalp is properly moisturised. If you’re still not getting results, try altering the products you’re using to allow the scalp to heal.
Use specialist hair loss treatments
Medically-backed hair loss treatments that are specially formulated to target the causes of hair loss exist. Some target elements like DHT production, whereas others nourish your scalp, giving it the essential vitamins to promote hair growth.
Indeed, the Pilot hair loss treatment is one such option. In fact, 90% of men who opted for Pilot either kept or regrew their hair when using one of our treatment options.
If you're ready to join them, check your eligibility today.
Explore hair transplants
Restoring your hair and covering up your noggin isn’t going to happen because of a few drops of special potion. Instead, it usually means a form of hair transplant.
Hair transplants involve taking donor skin and hair follicles from the back of your head or another part of your body, such as your back, and transplanting them to your scalp.
Whether you need a complete hairline restoration or need to increase your hair density, the prognosis for hair transplants is good.
Over time, hair transplants have become more effective as new innovations come to the table. According to the latest studies, the survival rate for scalp hair regrowth ranges from 75% to 95% [10].
Of course, hair transplants aren't something that will give you a full head of hair in an afternoon. The treatment might not require an overnight hospital stay but expect to wait several months for a year before you see the full results.
Science-backed hair restoration
Red light therapy might work for you, but everyone is different. Some people have succeeded with red light treatment, whereas others rely on hair loss medical treatments to save their hairlines.
What matters is that you seek professional help, and that’s where Pilot comes in. With our range of Aussie practitioners and proven treatments, we’ll help you find a path that works for you.
It’s an awful sinking feeling when you wake up and see thinning hair, but with groundbreaking innovations, you can save your hair and restore what you’ve already lost.
.svg)
