12 Months of Low-Level Laser Therapy at Home Improves Androgenetic Alopecia

Twelve months of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) provides sustained improvement in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), new findings suggest, with men and women seeing hair counts and thickness gradually increasing with use.1

These data supporting laser therapy’s role as a long-term therapeutic option for AGA were authored by a team of investigators, such as Jung-Won Shin, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Dermatology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Shin et al had set out to evaluate at-home use of a helmet-type LLLT device among those with this hair loss condition.

Prior to this analysis, recent data had pointed to low-level laser therapy as a potentially promising, non-pharmacologic alternative for addressing AGA, with the team pointing to a 2018 systematic review showing gains of about 17 hairs per cm2 with LLLT use.2 However, most studies looked at relatively brief periods of treatment, typically ranging from 16 - 26 weeks.

“A 48-week, prospective, multicenter clinical trial was conducted to assess changes in hair density and thickness over time, with additional subgroup analyses by sex and disease severity,” Shin and coauthors wrote.1 “Furthermore, the safety of extended use of LLLT on the scalp was closely monitored, given the limited data on prolonged exposure in home settings.”

Trial Design Details

Over 48 weeks, the investigators conducted their analysis using a multicenter, prospective, open-label clinical trial design. They involved adults diagnosed with AGA who were between the ages of 19 - 65 years. Eligible men exhibited male-pattern hair loss noted as as Hamilton–Norwood stages IIa through V. Women deemed eligible presented with female-pattern hair loss corresponding to Ludwig or Sinclair stages I–II. A lack of prior treatment history for AGA was also required by Shin et al. Additional devices used for hair growth at the time of enrollment were also not permitted.

Among the 82 patients initially screened by the investigative team, there were 68 who met all requirements for inclusion and were ultimately recruited for the study. For the study’s subgroup analyses, Shin and coauthors categorized baseline severity of participants’ AGA as mild, moderate, or severe. They described mild disease as Norwood II–III in men or Ludwig I in women and moderate disease as Norwood III Vertex–IV or Ludwig II. Severe disease was defined as Norwood V or Ludwig III.

A helmet-style LLLT device, intended for home utilization, was given to each study subject. 146 low-level laser diodes and 104 light-emitting diodes were incorporated in the LLLT device, arranged to allow for uniform scalp exposure. In total, there were 250 laser and LED light sources emitting red light to penetrate the scalp and reach the hair follicle level. Use of the laser therapy device was needed for 20 minutes per session, with Shin and colleagues requiring 3 times weekly on non-consecutive days. Additionally, subjects were recommended not to implement any concurrent hair loss treatments.

Outcomes evaluated by the investigative team to determine efficacy included measurements of hair shaft diameter and hair shaft density via phototrichogram analysis at predetermined points in time. During each visit, the team also used blinded global photographic assessments and patient-reported information on perceived hair growth. Safety monitoring consisted of clinical examinations along with a review of patient-reported events throughout the study period.

Results of At-Home Laser Therapy for Hair Loss

Mean hair density at 48-weeks rose significantly from 99.2 ± 27.7 hairs/cm² at the point of baseline to 124.2 ± 33.1 hairs/cm².1 According to the investigators, this represented a mean gain of 25.0 ± 28.1 hairs/cm² (P < .0001). In looking at mean hair shaft thickness improvements, they noted thickness similarly increased 65.1 ± 11.8 μm to 74.9 ± 12.6 μm (P < .0001). This corresponded to an approximate 15% increase.

Such improvements in patients’ hair were highlighted consistently across both sexes as well as all baseline categories of AGE severity.1 Shin et al noted, by the final visit, their global photographic assessment findings pointed to visible improvement in 59% of trial participants. They also noted more than 85% reporting satisfaction with the outcomes of LLLT treatment. There were also no device-related adverse events documented by the team. Participant adherence to the laser therapy regimen remained high over the course of the analysis.

“These findings support incorporating LLLT into routine clinical management of AGA and highlight the need for further research to refine treatment parameters—such as optimal wavelengths and frequency—and to explore its potential in combination with other therapeutic modalities for enhanced hair regrowth,” they wrote.1

References

1. Shin JW, Paik K, Huh CH, et al. Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 12-Month Prospective Trial, Dermatologic Therapy, 2026, 6621458, 8 pages, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1155/dth/6621458.

2. Delaney SW, Zhang P. Systematic review of low-level laser therapy for adult androgenic alopecia. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2018 Aug;20(4):229-236. doi: 10.1080/14764172.2017.1400170. Epub 2017 Dec 29. PMID: 29286826.