Can Light Therapy Prevent Baldness?

A look into an unusual method for stopping hair loss. We take a look at the use of light therapy for hair loss prevention.

While the simple answer is no it cannot prevent hair loss and baldness, it can for sure help you grow back the hair. Light therapy has become a very popular type of therapy in health and fitness circles and it has many reasons as to why it has become so. A type of light therapy, red light therapy is also known by the names cold laser, soft laser and low-level laser therapy. This is a safe type of treatment that has gained a lot of popularity for its use in treating the genetic type of hair loss that is very common in both men and women over the age of 35 years.

The Action Process of Red Light Therapy 

The three phases of red light therapy when it comes to treating hair loss is (i) Growth (Anagen Phase) (ii) Resting (Catagen Phase) and (iii) Shedding (Telogen Effluvium Phase)

Studies have shown that red light therapy can cause the blood flow in the scalp to increase and that it can stimulate metabolism in the follicles known as catagen or telogen. What this means is that there is an acceleration in the production of anagen hair. This is new hair that is being grown. Using light therapy is one of the most popular anti-baldness methods these days. 

How does it stop hair loss?

Two types of light therapy have been known to help with issues of hair loss and baldness. They are red light therapy and near infrared light therapy. Both of these types of light therapy have been proven to stop the loss of hair and also to promote the growth of fuller and thicker hair. In some cases, these light therapy treatments are known by other names such as photo bio-modulation and laser soft low-level light therapy.

It does not matter what they are called. The fact of the matter is that red light therapy is a safe method of preventing hair loss, including of the genetic type, that is based on the properties of light. This type of hair loss is particularly common in both men and women who are over the age of 35. 

This type of light therapy typically makes use of LED lights. These LED installations emit red light at a certain range of wavelengths. Studies have confirmed that these wavelengths of light is an effective way to make hair grow. 

Most men who face baldness, the hair loss starts with a receding hairline and loss of hair at the crown of the head. For women it is a bit different in that their hair loss mostly involves diffuse thinning of hair throughout the head. Whatever the reason and type of hair loss, the important thing to remember is that red light therapy can definitely help. 

Benefits of Red Light Therapy 

  • Low-level light therapy that uses red or near infrared light has been categorically and scientifically proven to help treat genetic forms of hair loss. This type of hair loss is known by the name of androgenic alopecia.
  • It has been proven that Red light therapy application can cause the hair to grow again in the crown area and as well as along the hairline. These are the most common places where men experience hair loss. 
  • This is a very safe treatment method that does not produce any undesired side effects. The treatment is also safe, painless and is the kind of treatment that is easy to get access to. 
  • After about 12 to 26 weeks of using red light therapy, in most cases, there can be seen regrowth of the hair. After this time period, users can also expect to see a loss of less hair every day and they can also expect to see improvement for hairs that are growing in the head.

When the treatment is paired with a few specific serums, results can be expected to be seen in only a few weeks. 

Safe form of treatment, no side effects

Each of us is different from one another, there is a difference in our physiologies. Although, there have been no reports of side effects when using red or near infrared light, there always does remain the chance that a certain individual could be the first to experience some kind of problems that no one previously did. This is why it is very important to consult with a specialist in this type of treatment before you get it for yourself.

Will hair grow in other unwanted places?

While light therapy is an extremely effective way to stimulate the growth of hair, it is important to remember that it cannot cause hair to grow in places where there was no hair previously. It can also increase the quality of the hairs that grow by improving the supply of blood to that area. This is very effective as it makes sure that the growing hair is getting fed all the right kind of nutrients when it is growing. 

All types of hair loss?

The treatment plans will be made depending on the type of hair loss a patient is suffering from. There is not a single treatment that is applicable for all kinds of hair loss, it is important to note that there is not a one-size fits all approach to this treatment method. If, for example, a medication is causing the loss of hair, it is important to note that no treatment method can stop hair loss unless the medication is stopped. Then there is also the fact that if you start a treatment in the early stages, the higher the chances you will have of the treatment succeeding. 

Not unlike brain cells that die, there is not much to do in terms of resurrecting a hair follicle once it has expired or died. The best idea is to start the treatment process as fast as possible once the initial onset of hair loss has begun. Beginning early is an essential part of the equation. The main users of this therapy for hair loss are people who are experiencing hair loss due to issues such as emotional and physical stress, the side effects of medication or other conditions such as male pattern baldness or menopause.

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