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Anyone tried Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)?
According to the advertisement, this is a FDA-approved system of low-level laser therapy to reverse hair loss and make thin weak hair thicker and healthier. "Thinning hair occurs when follicles are stangled by excessive DHT (dihydrotestoserone). The laser breaks away the DHT, allowing the hair follicles to get the nutrients necessary to regrown hair". "Anyone who still has active hair follicles can benefit from laser therapy". www.hairandskincenter.com. This center is in Michigan; don't know where else it is available, but I wonder if anyone can comment. Thanks.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Heather L on
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Hi Susan,
Yes I did try LLLT. I did it weekly for a year. I talked to my derm about it and she said that it does work well for male/female pattern baldness BUT that she didn't know if it could help with AA. She also wasn't aware of any safety issues- so I tried it. At this point if it can't hurt me I am game to try about anything!! They did also recommend that you use their shampoo/conditioner- all designed to help get rid of DHT build up.
My experience was..... IT did not stop the AA. I did get some new spots while doing the treatment. However I did see that the existing spots and new ones seem to re-grow hair quicker than before the laser treatment. So in my opinion- no it can not "Cure" AA or stop progression-- but it did seem to stimulate and help all the re-growth return faster.
There was one other woman where I went who had been bald for most of her life. She had little white whispy hairs but not much else. And she did really have great success- had lots of those white hairs thicken up and become normal hair to the point that she could do without her wig. What I do not know- is when/if she stops treatment if the regrowth will stay?
Hope that helps!
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Permalink Reply by Susan S on
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Heather, thank you so much for sharing your experience. This could provide some help, and as you say, seems not to be a detriment to health.
Did it take weeks or months before you noticed re-growth? Did you think the regrowth was the natural course of AA, but the LLLT made it thicker, or did you think the LLLT actually made the hair grow? Did you decide to stop because it simply was not doing enough good to warrant the continual treatment?
My daughter went through about a year of continual hair falling out with no regrowth. At least now it has stopped falling, but has not grown back either. Maybe the LLLT would kickstart it. Thanks again for your comments. All the best to you.
Susan
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Susan,
Fortunately all my spots have always regrown hair. Unfortunately however news keep on popping up! So on my head the past few years there are many spots all in different stages - some new and bald , other with white fuzz...and finally others with real hair growing. So for me with or without the LLLT I have had regrowth. So I think the regrowth was both a natural course of AA but the LLLT help speed up the process.
Generally once I get a bald spot - it takes between 6 to 8 months for good regrowth. By that I mean all the white fuzz gone and normal hair growth albeit uneven in length but enough the spot is no longer visible. What I found while doing the LLLT was the cycle became more 4 to 6 months. I didn't really notice my hair looking thicker- I stopped the treatment simply b/c I did a year contract and my time was up. I am able to go once month for free now for another year. It was also expensive- it was $200 per month. (included weekly session with the laser and the products) The machine I used was Mazza Laser and through a hair salon. (sure you can find it online- and Mario Mazza the owner is very hands on and will respond to emails if you wanted to hear his opinion- keeping in mind of course he is selling the use of it! ha! But still I found him to be helpful)
I wish I could tell you more- but I don't really know if LLLT can kick start your daughters hair to grow. I was told when I signed up that the average person will see results if it is going to work for them within 4 months. I didn't have any bad experiences with it so I suppose it can't hurt to try. I did participate in a study with LED light (and LLLT should work better- more concentrated). There was only 8 of us- there were two woman who were completely bald. Both did get some white fuzz regrowth and in some areas the fuzz started to turn into hair- BUT sadly when the study was over the regrowth fell out. So my concern would be if your daughter does get re-growth- would it stay after she completes the laser or fall out again? I guess that is the million dollar question for all us with AA! And there is no answer.... such frustration!
So sorry you & your daughter are going through this....
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From the DIY groups that make their own equipment for the LLLT for the hair, they find that optimal treatment times vary from one person to the next. The consensus for a while was 20 minutes 3 times a week. Now some are seeing more positive results with frequent treatment times and shorter sessions. 10-15min 4 times a week.
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Permalink Reply by Andrea on
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Hi Susan,
I am halfway through my year course of LLT right now (I'm taking it at the center in Troy, Michigan from your advertisement). It took about three months for any hair to grow at all, and after about four months I had a pretty horrifying bout of shedding, where I lost about half the hair I had before I started LLT. Now, my spots are starting to grow in, but it is going VERY slowly. When I had a checkup at the LLT place a few months ago to see my progress, the technician said she did not see ANY empty follicles, so she said new hair is probably growing in place of the hair that fell out during the shedding process, and that it sometimes happens to LLT users. I just wish someone had told me that before I started LLT.
What I don't know yet is whether or not my spots will completely fill in by the time the year has ended. Since i'm blonde, the hair that has grown back is barely visible from far away, and there are spots (like my hairline) that have gotten worse and not grown new hair at all since I started.
I hope that gives you some helpful information. Good luck to your daughter!
Andrea
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Hi Andrea,
From the LLLT forums, it seems that shedding is common around the 3rd or 4rth month of LLLT therapy. Some of the forums are discussing the possibility that hair color or lighter skin color increases your chance for heavy shedding, but there is no consensus on this yet. What is known is after shedding (shedding due to LLLT) hair usually grows back and usually a little thicker.
How often are your LLLT sessions and how long per session?
Also, are you using any shampoos like Nizoral?
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Hi Tony,
I began going twice a week for the first three months. It was supposed to taper off to once per week, then once every two weeks, then once a month, but they recommended I keep going once per week, so Ive been doing that.
I'm not using any special shampoo other than the one they provide, which is supposed to be specially pH balanced, or something. I also use a nurtition formula they provide on my scalp every day, and a spray cleanser in the shower twice a week. Before I started this, I used a shampoo called Nioxin, and I really didnt see any difference using it.
Thanks for your insight, and hope my information helps.
Andrea
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Hello Andrea, I just read your comment posted in 2010 as you were getting LLLT at Michigan Hair and Skin. You mentioned the extensive hair loss you were experiencing. I have experienced the same after treatments at their Clarkston office. Did your hair recover and grow back? And how long were your appointments? If you could share your experience and result , I would really like to hear from you. Thank you, Nancy
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Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on
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If a protocol were proven and tested to be effective for alopecia areata every board certified dermatologist in the world would be offering it to their patients with AA.
Before that happens, anyone who asks their doctor about the laser and notices the doctor nod affirmatively is really seeing a physician who believes " Ok, at least it probably won't cause you any harm. Carry on." But that is not the same as saying yes to something that is shown to work. Until a scientific study proves otherwise, you can pretty much assume that any regrowth would have happened anyway without any treatment at all.
In the meantime, enterprising people world wide will continue to take the hard earned money of people with AA and in exchange gift wrap some "hope".
Being FDA approved to produce stronger, thicker hair is not the same as being proven effective for AA which is not a disease caused by diminished follicular thickness.
yes, if you had patchy AA and you saw improvement in existing hair from laser therapy you could possibly effect some changes in those hairs, but the laser cannot prevent those hairs or any other hairs from succumbing to the underlying cause of AA.
This is a fairly complete run down on the current state of laser therapy which was published in the same issue as an interview I did about the important of physicians treating " The Whole Woman"
http://healthy-aging.advanceweb.com/Article/Beauty-Lost-or-Beauty-.....so if you scroll down after the laser article you can see my interview.
Thea
www.BaldGirlsDoLunch.org
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Hello, Three years ago I lost 60 to 70% of my hair during and six months following low level laser therapy. The business owner had me under the salon style hood for 45 minutes per session, twice weekly for six months. This caused overstmulation of the follicles resulting in the loss with no recovery in three years, just slower and progressive thinning with a very fine textured hair. I originally went in with thinning at temples and slight thinness on sides, otherwise much fullness of hair. After consulting with numerous experts, both in the field of photomedicine including hair regrowth , a physician involved in developing a home laser, and a renowned trichologist from California. They all concurred 45 minutes too long, but not one would admit the damage it could do to the hair follicles They just said LLLT cannot cause permanent damage, and recommended I do LLL treatments at home.
Am I the only person who has ever experienced this? I doubt it. Perhaps more research and testing needs to be done to determine negative affects of LLLT when not administered properly. FDA approved this device not for its effectiveness, but for its safety!??? Perhaps they didn't consider overstimulation resulting in permanent follicle damage a safety concern, only one of aesthetics /cosmetic!!! My final point is that this treatment performed in a business type setting is not regulated. The operator doesn't need a license to practice or any formal training, and some can be very convincing to the most astute public, preying on their hope for healthier and fuller hair with nothing but a dangling carrot and no guarantee of result at a very high price! I find this extremely misleading and unethical. Don"t understand how this can happen!
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Permalink Reply by outforawalk on
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Thank you for alerting us to this.
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