Cold Laser Hair Treatment
For cosmetic purposes, laser technology is used to treat skin irregularities and visible signs of aging such as sun damage, discoloration and wrinkles, and for hair removal. Non-cosmetic purposes include treating pain, and correcting malfunctions of the eye area. Cold laser therapy, often referred to as low level laser therapy (LLLT), or soft therapy, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for temporary pain relief, but is now used to treat hair loss. Does this Spark an idea?
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Functions of Cold Laser Hair Treatment
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Unlike other laser treatments which are for hair removal, LLLT, or cold laser hair treatment, is used for hair restoration. It aims to cease the shedding of hair and promote new hair growth. Cold laser hair treatment is also used to thicken thinning hair.
How it Works
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Low level laser therapy is based on photo-biotherapy, which occurs as the cells of the treated area absorb the laser light, thereby stimulating both cell metabolism and protein synthesis. This improves the health and overall functionality of the cells.
LLLT lasers do not use a laser light source that causes heat damage, and there is no cutting or burning that occurs on the skin of the treated area. The energy of LLLT lasers is much lower than the energy of laser beams that cut or burn skin tissue during treatment. This energy production stimulates the hair follicles on the scalp and reverses the process of thinning and shedding.
The absorption rate of LLLT lasers is so low that use of these lasers for hair loss treatment is safe and painless.
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Procedure
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Instead of using traditional lasers which penetrate the hair follicles one at a time, cold laser therapy is delivered with an overhead device that simultaneously aims multiple panels of lasers onto the scalp. The device looks similar to the overhead hair dryer in a salon, which addresses the entire hair-covered section at once. Since cold laser therapy is painless and causes absolutely no discomfort, patients can read a magazine or book during the hair treatment procedure. Treatment is completed within one hour.
Benefits
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Many patients prefer laser treatment to other hair options that require the use of chemicals. Propecia and Minoxidil, for example, are hair loss treatments that require continual, consistent use, and develop a dependency on chemicals in order to sustain continued hair growth. Cold laser hair treatment, however, does not involve the use of chemicals, is not addictive, and is extremely low risk. Laser treatment can also be used safely and effectively in conjunction with other hair loss treatments. According to ColdLasers.org, studies in both the United States and Europe have shown positive effects on hair restoration from the use of cold laser therapy, and patient reviews indicate that the treatment has not only restored hair, but thickened it as well.
FDA Approval of Home-Use LLLT Product
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In January 2007, the FDA approved the HairMax Laser Comb for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss in men). The Laser Comb is the first cold laser therapy hand-held device that may be used at home. This is a compact version of the larger medical laser therapy device that makes the hair look fuller. The comb has teeth that section the hair to ensure that the laser light thoroughly reaches the scalp.
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