Red Light Therapy and Hair Growth
Our hair is one of the most noticeable parts of our body. It serves like a crown on our head.
Having silky and soft (in short, healthy) hair makes us feel great. For example, it boosts our confidence when people love running their fingers through them.
Hence, we go to great lengths to maintain and groom our hair. We visit barbers and salons. We invest money just to keep this body ornament healthy. In fact, hair care is a booming business everywhere.
In this blog we will explore the science of hair growth and how red and near infrared light therapy helps enhance and maintain this growth.
Our Hair in Focus
Hair is a filament of dead keratinized cells growing out of the epidermis. It has a simple structure but performs important functions for the body.
Hair is primarily made of a tough protein called keratin. It is anchored into our skin by a hair follicle.
Each filament of hair has two parts – the hair bulb and the hair shaft. The hair bulb makes up the base of the hair follicle. This part of the hair is where living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft.
There are also blood vessels that brings nourishment to the cells in the hair bulb. Through these blood vessels, hormones that modify hair growth and structure at different times of life are delivered.
Here is a figure that shows the structure of human hair:
Throughout history, hair has had a lot of functions other than ornamental ones. Here are some notable examples:
For early humans, it is not hard to imagine that the presence of lots of body hair kept them warm. We can also assume that their hair may have protected them from cuts and scrapes considering the way they lived on that period of history.
Moreover, the hairs of early evolved human species could have provided camouflage for them while they hunt for food. They may have even served as a nice handhold for their young.
As we study evolutionary history and biology, it is hard to miss that early human species were much hairier than modern humans. The reason is maybe due to the assumption that our ancestors, sometime in history, started hunting in hot, tropical areas. Their bodies began to adapt to the warmer environments, so they had less hair.
Bare skin adds to the efficiency of our body’s natural cooling system so modern humans who existed later in the evolutionary ladder have had less hair than our earlier counterparts.
But I wonder why we had kept our tuft of hair at the top. Why not just be bald? Won’t our natural body cooling system then be much more efficient?
Socio-anthropology experts believe that retaining and styling head hair had to do with a mating ritual. They say that the male with the most impressive head hair intimidates his rivals, got his girl, and fathered the next generation. Hence, head hair, in human evolutionary history seemed to have played a major role in obtaining a partner and successfully producing offspring.
Well that may no longer be true today, but the fact still remains that we need to maintain the health and growth of our head hair.
The Science of Hair Growth
Matthew Hoffman, MD, mentioned in an article that hair growth actually occurs in cycles consisting of three phases:
⦁ Anagen or the growth phase. In this phase, most hair is growing at any given time. Each of our hair spends several years in this phase.
⦁ Catagen or the transitional phase. In this phase, hair growth slows down, and the hair follicles start to shrink. This happens for a period of a few weeks.
– Telogen or the resting phase. In this phase, hair growth completely stops. The old hair detaches from the hair follicle and falls off when, in place of the old hair, a new hair begins the growth phase. As the new hair grows, it pushes the old hair out.
Studies show that everyone of us are born with the total amount of hair follicles that we will ever have in our entire lifetime. It is estimated that there may be about 5 million hair follicles on our body. Our head, however, has only about 100,000 hair follicles in it.
Hair grows at different rates in different people. Research shows that the average rate our hair grows is around one-half inch per month. Hair growth rate depends on factors such as age, specific hair type, overall health and other health conditions, mostly of our scalp [2].
As we age, some of our follicles stop producing hair. You will notice that our hair starts thinning over a certain area of our head. Once untreated, baldness soon happens.
There are home remedies and therapies that we can try to stop hair thinning and baldness. However, it should be noted that it can be very difficult to regrow hair that has already been lost due to balding.
Home remedies for hair growth include the following – scalp massage, aloe vera, rosemary oil, geranium oil, biotin and saw palmetto. Other therapies currently being used to treat hair thinning and baldness are medications, vitamins, diet tweaks and various cosmetic procedures.
There is, however, another form of treatment for hair thinning and baldness that is increasingly gaining scientific backing over the years – red and NIR light therapy. Read on as we explore this amazing new ground in hair growth measures.
Hair Growth and Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is also known as photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT).
Red and near infrared (NIR) light therapy is a simple, non-invasive treatment that uses wavelengths of red and NIR light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) to the cells [3]. You can read more about red and NIR light therapy here [4].
Red light therapy involves two forms of electromagnetic radiation – red light and infrared light. To learn more about the difference of red light and infrared light, read a related post here [5].
Red light therapy works by inducing a biochemical effect in cells. This biochemical effect strengthens the mitochondria, a part of all cells which is known to be the powerhouse of the cell. This part is where energy, in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is synthesized.
By enhancing the function of the mitochondria using red and NIR light therapy, research suggests that a cell can make more ATP which means that the cell has more available energy for all its functions. With more energy, the cells can then function more efficiently, rejuvenate themselves, and repair damage. [6]
Backed by a strong base of peer-reviewed clinical studies, red and NIR light therapy is a safe, effective, and natural treatment option for hair thinning and baldness.
Results of various researches and studies show that red and NIR light treatments have increased hair count, hair density, and hair thickness for men and women alike. Best of all, these benefits come without any negative side effects.
We will break down in this blog the various studies on red and NIR light therapy and hair growth. Read on to learn the science behind natural light and its effect on hair thinning and baldness.
How Red Light Therapy Treats Hair Thinning and Baldness
Michael R. Hamblin traces the connection of red light therapy and hair loss to a time over 50 years ago when Mester in Hungary observed regrowth of hair in mice when irradiated with a ruby laser [8].
Today more studies prove that red and NIR light therapy is effective in hair growth. The following are examples of these studies:
A study in 2018 [9] reviewed available literature on the use of red and NIR light for hair loss. The researchers proved that light in the red spectrum is effective for hair growth.
A study conducted in Korea published in 2020 determined the safety and efficacy of red light therapy in the treatment of alopecia. The results of meta-analysis showed that red light therapy has an efficacy on alopecia. Moreover, there were no serious side effects or adverse effects observed.
In 2013, years before these confirmatory studies, a pioneering study [11] researched on the safety and physiologic effects of red light therapy on males with androgenic alopecia. Results showed that red light therapy of the scalp at 655 nanometers significantly improved hair counts in males with androgenetic alopecia.
A similar study [12] was conducted, this time to female subjects, in 2014. Results have shown that red light therapy of the scalp at 655 nanometers significantly improved hair counts in women with androgenetic alopecia at a rate similar to that observed in males using the same parameters.
It is also important to note that on both pioneering studies with men in 2013 and women in 2014, no serious side effects or adverse effects had been observed.
In 2017, a similar study [13] was again conducted among women with androgenetic alopecia. This time, the human hair follicle and surrounding tissue structures are exposed to laser light using a device operating at 650 nanometers. The device was placed inside a sports cap to promote discretion while in use. The researchers observed significant increase in hair growth among the test subjects.
Are Red Light Devices Safe?
The studies mentioned are only a few of many valuable studies made all over the world backing the efficacy of using red and NIR light therapy in the treatment of hair thinning and baldness both in men and women alike.
Taking these studies into careful consideration, it is not totally surprising to see that more and more men and women are now turning to red light therapy devices for their hair loss problems and concerns.
An important question, though, still needs to be asked because we need to take care of ourselves at all times. Let us therefore ask the all-too-important question for you.
Are red light devices currently in the market safe?
While we cannot speak for others, we at Leredd are confident that the ones we are selling are safe, efficient and cost-effective.
How so? Let me offer a few reasons that will hopefully convince you.
First, a study reported by the Harvard Gazette website mentioned that researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) suggests that light therapy is safe and may even help patients with moderate brain injury.
Second, I think it helps to also mention that Red and NIR light therapy uses LED devices that are approved by the FDA and other agencies like the CE and ROHS. You are therefore assured of the safety of our devices.
Third, our red and NIR light therapy devices do not make use of harmful electromagnetic radiation like ultraviolet rays, so it is safe. They use, on the other hand, very low levels of radiant energy which do not hurt or burn the skin.
Last and most importantly, red and NIR light therapy is 100% non-invasive. Therefore, there is no need for recovery time after treatment. Once you are done with the therapy, you can continue doing your daily activities without worry.
Trying Leredd Red Light Therapy Devices
Are you not convinced yet? Stop the early signs of baldness through red and NIR light therapy. Visit our online shop to learn about the amazing selection of red light therapy devices that we offer.
We assure you that all these devices are safe, 100% non-invasive and are cleared by the FDA as they fall under the low risk and general wellness categories, which do not require FDA registration as described in the “General Wellness: Policy on Low Risk Devices” document released September 27, 2019.
We at Leredd take pride in the quality of our red light devices. Our team of R&D team have designed all devices to replicate and sometimes exceed actual clinical treatments.
The good news is that you can have them minus the difficulty and stress of driving to treatment centres and facilities, just for therapy.
No more hassles. Our red light therapy devices are available in an array of sizes so that you can try in the convenience of your own home, in your own free time.
With our red and NIR light therapy at-home devices including the Smart Cap you can commit to a consistent and life changing red light therapy regimen to counter your hair loss problem.
You want to try but have no idea how? Red light therapy treatments are simple and are easily done.
Leredd recommends that you start with 10 minutes exposure time per treatment area, ideally every day. Do not miss a session. Always remember to be consistent.
For the best results, follow the following easy-to-do basics:
⦁ When using panels – Make sure to position yourself between 10cm to 50cm
(For the Smartcap it will sit directly on your head and scalp.)
⦁ Expose your treatment area to approximately 10-20-minute treatment times per coverage area for best results.
⦁ Use the device daily for optimal results. You can have your therapy session at any time of the day.
Try red and NIR light therapy and experience how it can produce significant health benefits described by the many scientific and clinical studies in this blog. However, bear in mind that you ought to combine your sessions with a healthy lifestyle. Commit to it and voila, you will be surprised by the most amazing results.
Do you have questions? Please Contact us here. We will be very happy to assist.
