Hair growth / androgenetic alopecia
Visible red laser and LED scalp device trial in men with androgenetic alopecia
Lanzafame RJ, Blanche RR, Bodian AB, et al. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2013.
A randomized sham-controlled study found that 655 nm red laser/LED scalp treatment significantly improved hair counts in men with androgenetic alopecia.
Evidence grade
moderate
Effect direction
positive
Panel relevance
not-panel-replicable
Key findings
- The trial concluded that scalp LLLT at 655 nm significantly improved hair counts in males with androgenetic alopecia.
- The device class is directly relevant to hair caps/helmets and less relevant to general red light panels.
- The study adds a male RCT to the home/scalp-device hair-growth evidence base.
Protocol details
| Wavelengths | 655 nm |
|---|---|
| Irradiance | Not reported mW/cm2 |
| Fluence | Not reported J/cm2 |
| Session time | Not reported minutes |
| Frequency | Not reported |
| Duration | Not reported |
| Treatment area | Scalp |
| Device type | Visible red laser and LED scalp device |
Caveats
- Scalp delivery geometry matters because hair can block light.
- Do not extrapolate to regrowth from dead follicles or advanced bald scalp without matching evidence.