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Mike Kaine, MD Written by Erin D. Updated on 29 Apr 2024
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EXPERT GUIDE

Laser Caps Against Hair Loss


Mike Kaine, MD

This text was written according to the highest scientific standards and reviewed by medical experts. Find out more about our quality assurance.

Written by Erin D. Updated on 29 Apr 2024

There are plenty of products on the market right now that claim to have fixed hair loss. Unfortunately, none of these products or experimental methods have solidified themselves as a legitimate “cure” for hair loss yet. Keeping all this in mind, we were naturally skeptical about laser caps for hair loss at first. So this guide dives into the details about laser caps by dissecting some of the clinical evidence surrounding it.

Most Important Findingssvg

Brands Kiierr...
Side Effects Burned scalp...
Alternatives Minoxidil, Finasteride...

How Do Laser Caps Work?

Laser caps, like laser helmets and laser combs, work by directing LED lights or red laser beams right at your scalp. 

These lights or beams are set at specific wavelengths and designed to improve the blood flow within your scalp thereby boosting the blood circulation to your hair follicles. This in turn makes your follicles work over time, thus promoting hair growth. 

In scientific circles, this type of hair loss treatment is known as low-level light therapy and has been a work-in-progress treatment for centuries now. However, the FDA remains unconvinced as they have not officially declared the treatment as an effective solution for hair loss. That being said, they have declared it a safe treatment, which is better than nothing. It at least allows patients to opt for the therapy without worrying about any serious repercussions.

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What is Clinical Evidence Laser Helmets?

Despite sounding like a gadget out of a science-fiction movie, you have to give credit where credit is due, laser helmets may actually be a proven treatment for hair loss. 

Especially when there are studies proving the product’s efficacy dating all the way back to the 1960s. We have compiled some of these studies in the table below.

Study Result
Jun Qiu, Yanhua Yi, Linlang Jiang, Yong Miao, James Jia, Jian Zou, and Zhiqi Hu et al (2022) A real-world study was carried out using an FDA-approved laser helmet on 1383 patients diagnosed with either mild or moderate-to-severe androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Mild AGA patients were made to use the helmet 133 times, while moderate-to-severe AGA patients used the helmet 144 times over the course of 40 weeks. Results showed an overall 80% clinical effectiveness of the helmet in both mild and moderate-to-severe AGA patients.
Andjela Egger, Sydney R. Resnik, Divya Aickara, Eric Maranda, Michael Kaiser, Tongyu C. Wikramanayake, and Joaquin J. Jimenez et al (2020) A literature review was conducted by gathering original articles within the Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane trial databases that evaluated hair regrowth following low-level light therapy. Only articles that used 600-1,100nm wavelength helmets and went on for more than 16 weeks were included in the study. Results showed that 8 out of 10 randomized controlled trials showed a marked increase in hair diameter and density following low-level light therapy.
Pinar Avci, Gaurav K. Gupta, Jason Clark, Norbert Wikonkal, and Michael R. Hamblin et al (2013) This 2013 study searched through the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using keywords alopecia, LLLT (low-level light therapy), and hair loss. Results of the search showed that LLLT controlled trials produced a marked increase in hair growth in both men and women.
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What are the Best Laser Cap Brands?

While there is clinical evidence proving laser caps’ effectiveness as a hair loss treatment method, you still have to carefully choose the best laser cap brands to get the best results. 

The table below contains some of our favorite brands, their best-selling products, and the reviews they have received from customers. 

Brand Name/ Best Selling Product Reviews FDA-Approved
Kiierr - Kiierr Laser Cap Hair Growth System
4.8/5 rating from 1100 customer reviews on Amazon
Yes
Capillus - CapillusPro
4.9/5 rating from 300 customer reviews on Amazon
Yes
Hairmax - PowerFlex 272 Laser Cap
4.2/5 rating from 90 customer reviews on Amazon
Yes
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What are the Side Effects of Laser Helmets?

The number one concern most people have with wearing laser helmets is getting their scalp burned from the heat being generated by the lasers. 

However, you can rest easy on that front, as the light these lasers emit is not hot, meaning you are in no danger of getting burned. 

In fact, the only reported side effects of laser helmets are minor ones that have more to do with the device itself than the light it emits. If the device does not rest comfortably on your head, it could cause mild chafing, itchiness, and tenderness on your scalp. 

Additionally, if the device has not been cleaned properly between uses it could infect your scalp with bacteria, causing acne.  

What are Alternative Treatments Against Hair loss?

Despite studies backing their effectiveness, laser caps and low-level light therapy are still considered relatively experimental treatments for hair loss. Fortunately, the market is still full of proven alternative hair loss treatments that work. 

For example, hair loss medications like minoxidil and finasteride have both been approved by the FDA for efficacy in slowing down or even stopping hair loss. 

Minoxidil is primarily a topical treatment used to treat mild forms of alopecia and telogen effluvium.

Finasteride, on the other hand, is used to specifically treat male pattern baldness and is only available in pill form. 

Hair transplants, however, still remain the most effective way to regain the hair you have already lost. Plus, it is a one-time treatment that may cost you very little if you decide to travel to a country like Turkey for the procedure. 

Most common prescribed hair loss treatments

Sources

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