Low Level Light Therapy Explained
The LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy device is a soft laser, developed in Europe for the treatment of hair loss and diseases of the scalp. Low level laser therapy (LLLT), which gave birth tot he laser hair therapy device, was first used to treat woulds and sores that would not heal using conventional medical therapies. These sores were ususally located on the lower extremities of the diabetes patients where lack of blood supply was an issue.
Laser Light was focused on the areas to be treated, with astonishing results. No only did the sores heal, but also the body hair located within th eradius of the laser beam grew thicker and longer than the surrounding hair. This was proof-positive to researchers, that laser light delivered with the correct power at the appropriate wavelenght had a positive effect on cell function within the hair follicle.
In clinical studies, laser light is proven to stimulate cell metabolism, protein synthesis, tissue and cartilage regeneration, while dramatically increasing blood supply to the target area. This same technology is currently being used to successfully treat carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and sports injuries.
Laser researcher, Dr. David G. Williams states: “Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT is a miraculous healling tool”. Dr. Pekka K Pontinen of Sweden, the world’s leading authority of LLLT, believes that the day will come when most homes will have a flash-light sized, low level devices, capable of treating a wide range of medical problems from headaches to arthritis to burns and sports injuries.
The principles of Low Level Laser Therapy or photo-biotherapy are as old as sunlight itself. Harnessing and refinin the therapy with low reactive lasers is relatively new. Low level leasers are “soft” lasers, often referred to as “cold” lasers, and do not have the thermal-component to cut, burn or vaporize tissues. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLHT) is based on the scientific principle of photo-biotherapy. Photo-biotherapy occurs when laser light is absorbed by cells, stimulating cell stimulating cell metablolism and causing damaged cells to repair themselves. Photo-biochemical changes in cells can onlyu be achieved with the correct amount of light energy, delivered at the appropriate wavelength. According to laser researcher Dr. David G. Williams, “Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT, is a miraculous healing tools.
Light Energy
Normal white light productes a theramal effect in the skin. This is due to its relatively high enery output, with a large share of it’s light in the infrared spectrum being absorbed by water in the outer cell structures. Laser light, with one specific wavelength, penetrates deep into the layers of skin and is absorbed, provoking a photo-biochemical chain reaction. The LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy device has 15 diode lasers mounted in a half sphere, which rotate around the entire head, delivering laser energy to the tissues of the scalp. Laser energy (photons), penetrate deep into these tissues and are absorbed by deeper cell structures, resulting in a photo-biochemical chain of cellular studies, to stimulate these cellular and sub-cellular events, leading to a dramatic increase in mirco-circulation of blood supply, cessation of hair loss and stimulation of hair regrowth. Various light sources including laser have been used in attempts to stimulate hair growth and stop the prgression of hair loss since the 1950’s. Some of these studies have included light sensitive drugs. Such studies are not presented here.
In 1969, Dr. Brian E. Johnson reported his attempts to stimulate hair growth on C57B mice 260 nm irradiation. Inhibitions were reported in the wavelength reange 280-310nm.
Professor E. Mester reported in 1968 that unfocused 694 nm Rubin laser-light initially increased hair growth in C57B mice.
In 1984 Dr. Trelles showed in one study that patients with alopecia areata who were treated with HeNe Laser 632.8nm showed a good response. Dr. Trelles reported that most of the patients with alopecia areata responded well after only 6 to 8 treatments administered twice a week for four weeks. The HeNe Laser was placed 30 centimeters from the alopecia area with dosages ranging from 3-4 joule per sq. cm.
No fibers or lenses were used. In the same study, microsocpic evaluation of the hair shaft structure on the alopecia areata irradiated areas showed a clear modulla rich in Karatine after treatment. Daily treatments appeared to prevent regrowth, causing irritation with a probable increase in hair loss.
At the 4th Annual Meeting of the Japan Laser Therapy Association in 1992, success was reported with an increase in both hair growth and the density of the hair follicle in the laser treated areas of both male and female stress alopecia and alopecia areata patients, with only 1 failure out of 40 cases reported in two papers.
Two Clinical double blinded controlled studies have been
completed on LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy.
- Cessation of hair loss, increased regrowth of hair with improved hair quality.
- Increased circulation of scalp blood flow.
Hair Loss, Regrowth (Study #1)
A double blind comparative study of laser treatment with placebo laser (LED) 5 for treatment of Hereditary Androgenetic Alopecia in young males. Abstract: A double blind placebo controlled study was carried out to evaluate the effect of laser therapy by comparing LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy (in GaAl, 670 nm) and a placebo laser (LED). The duration of hair loss and baldness, according to Hamilton Classification, were recorded. A skin biopsy for hsitological examination was taken before and after treatment. In addition a photograph was taken of the patient at the same time. Hair shaft thickness was measured with hair stretch equipment where the hairs can be stretched on a greaded scale from 0-10, normal value of hair shaft being 0.5.
Hamilton Classification Chart – Click Here to see an Illustration
The results were confirmed by histological examination. All patients with the exception of one in the laser-treated group showed a c omplete cessation of hair loss.
All patientes except 3, showed a clear regroth of hair with a reduction of at least one category in the Hamilton Classifiction. Pre-treatment typically showed the dermis with large, relatively normal amounts of follicles. Most of them were in the telogenphase and did not show any real hair. Some of the follicles were widened with keratin taps at the follicle opening. Post-treatment showed the dermis with almost the same amount of hair follicles as pre-treatment, although a number of new follicles could be seen with clearly noticeable hair growth. 50% of the follicles were now in the anagen phase. A clearly visible regrowth of hair was found in post-treatment sample comparison. When compairing the histological findings, transformation into moreanagenic hair follicles could be observed in 83% of the patients on laser treatment, but in non of the placebo patients.
Out of 18 patients, 14 showed an increase in hair thickness, and all 18 patients showed improvement in general hair shaft quality. When measured with the hair stretcher,the results showed no imporvement in the placebo group or any adverse effects of the treatment.
The present double-blind study definitely showed that regrowth of new hair can be achieved in most middle-aged and younger males, with typical male pattern baldness, when the scalp is irradiated with LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy for 30 minutes twice weekly for 5 weeks, with follow-up maintenance treatments.
Scalp Blood Flow (Study #2)
The effect of hair lasers on skin blood flow. Abstract: The effect of hair lasers on skin blood flow were measured on three different devices to establish the effect of scalp blood flow. The hair lasers used were LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy (InGaA1,670nm) with rotating diode lasers, an Italian manufactures laser (HeNe,632.8nm) marketed as the Boston Laser, and containing a single laser transferring light via lenses to the patient, and a laser identical to LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy in which the diode lasers were replaced with (placebo) Light Emitting Diode (LED).
Results
The difference in the laser systems are illustrated by the fact that LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy increased sclp blood low rate by 54% The HeNe laser, or Boston laser, had no effect, and the LED (placebo) decreased the blood flow rate by 36%. In addition, skin temperatures measure before and after the treatment showed little change.
Laser Science AB’s Comment (manufacture)
Client/Patient undergoing treatment with LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy may ecperience a sensation of heat, accompanied by a tingling feeling from the scalp to the neck during treatment. LLHC Laser Light Hair Therapy has no thermal component and the warm feeling can be attributed to stimulation of microcirculation of blood supply. Furthermore, initially an olier scalp is often noticed. The scalp ususally normalizes after two to four treatments. This condition has not been fully explained, but is believed to be the result of the normalization of the sebum (lipid) secretion form the sebaceous gland during treatment, after inactive hair follicles have been stimulated, the sebum (5a-reductase) is thought to play a role in hair loss and regrowth. The described reaction to treatment is a natural reaction, which indicates that the therapy is working.