If you're losing your hair and want to do something about it, there are a variety of treatment options available to you. There are medications such as finasteride and minoxidil. These mainly work by blocking hormones that cause hair loss, or by improving blood flow to certain areas of your scalp. Then there are personal care products such as shampoos, which aim to slow down hair loss and stimulate new hair growth. More recently, a variety of laser treatments for hair loss have appeared on the market. Many of them use medical-grade lasers to stimulate hair follicles, with claims suggesting that regular use of laser therapy can improve the delivery of blood and nutrients to your hair.

Below, we've dug into the science behind laser treatments for hair loss to find out how effective they really are. We also looked at the specific treatments currently available.

Laser Treatment for Hair Loss

• Laser treatments for hair loss are designed to increase blood circulation and stimulate new hair growth.

• Many laser products are available to treat hair loss. These include handheld devices and larger devices used in salons and clinics.

• Unlike hair loss medications such as finasteride, laser treatments do not reduce your DHT levels or affect your hormones in any way.

• Currently, scientific research on laser treatments for hair loss is limited but largely positive. Many studies have shown positive results. This is despite the fact that laser treatments have not been tested as extensively as hair loss medications.

• The price of laser treatments for hair loss can vary. This depends on your location and the number of sessions you need.

What is Laser Treatment for Hair Loss?

Laser treatment for hair loss, or low-intensity laser therapy, is a modern treatment option for several types of hair loss. 

Although laser technology has improved significantly since the 1960s, experts still don't know exactly why lasers cause hair growth.

Currently, evidence suggests that low-intensity laser therapy may work by triggering vasodilation (a widening of blood vessels) and stimulating blood flow to specific areas of your skin, such as your hair follicles.

Researchers believe that this can cause your hair to enter the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle.

This mechanism of action is similar to minoxidil, one of two drugs approved by the FDA to treat hair loss.

Several different laser devices are available to treat hair loss. Large laser hair growth devices, which usually have a hood that fits over your scalp, are commonly used in hair loss clinics.

Pros and Cons of Laser Treatments for Hair Loss

Like other treatment options for hair loss, laser treatment for hair loss has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

• It's painless and non-invasive. Compared to procedures such as hair transplantation, laser treatment for hair loss is non-invasive, painless, and has a much shorter recovery time.

• It does not appear to cause any side effects. Research on low-level laser therapy shows that it is generally a safe method of stimulating hair growth that does not cause the side effects associated with some hair loss medications.

• It seems to be effective. Although the amount of research is limited, most studies on low-level laser therapy show that it can stimulate hair growth. We have talked more about the scientific research on laser treatment of hair loss in the section below.

Cons

• This can be costly. Since laser treatments for hair growth need to be done regularly, the costs can add up over time. Beanies, helmets, and other at-home laser devices are also expensive to buy.

• It's time-consuming and inconvenient. Compared to taking a daily medication or a single hair transplant surgery, using a laser hair growth device several times a week can be time-consuming.

• While the research is generally positive, it is not very extensive. At present, there are far fewer studies on laser treatment than there are on hair loss drugs such as minoxidil and finasteride.

• It can cause problems when used with certain medications. Laser treatments should not be used with medications or treatments that cause photosensitivity.

How Do Laser Hair Growth Treatments Work?

Laser treatments for hair growth, or low-intensity laser therapy, aim to improve hair growth and treat hair loss by improving circulation and stimulating the growth of new hair. Near-infrared or red laser light can promote tissue repair and regeneration. For this reason, laser therapy is often used for wound healing and several cosmetic skin treatments.

Most laser therapy devices for hair growth work by emitting light that penetrates the scalp. Although scientific research is limited, proponents of laser therapy believe that it can improve blood flow and stimulate hair restoration.