Laser is another great discovery of mankind after nuclear energy, computer and semiconductor since the 2th century, and it is called "the fastest knife", "the most accurate ruler" and "the brightest light". The light stimulated by atoms is named "laser". Laser has been applied to military, industrial, medical and many other industries, and it is also useful in the field of hair loss treatment.
In 1964, when the Hungarian doctor Mester used low-intensity ruby laser (694nm) to treat cancer mice, he found that the side effect was hirsutism, so he proposed for the first time that low-intensity laser might promote hair growth. At that time, minoxidil and finasteride had not yet appeared, and hair transplantation technology was still struggling. Mester's discovery should have brought direction to hair loss treatment at that time, but unfortunately, no one in the medical field paid attention to this discovery. Instead, some cosmetic doctors used 694nm laser for hair removal treatment 31 years later (1995).
around 22, the medical profession affirmed the hair growth effect of low-frequency intense pulsed laser. They thought that low-energy laser would not cause hair to fall off, but it could stimulate hair growth. In fact, the technology of low-energy laser already existed earlier, and its medical applications are mainly tissue repair, joint injury, wound healing, pain relief, etc. The safety has long been proved, but it has not been applied to the field of hair loss treatment.
That is to say, the laser with the same wavelength, if the energy is too high, will burn hair follicles and form hair removal; If the energy is very low, it will not only harm hair follicles, but also promote hair follicle growth. This key energy value is currently 5mW. Because of its low energy, this kind of laser is also called "low energy laser" or "soft laser", and its professional name is LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy). One of the keys of LLLT is the wavelength. Low-energy laser generally refers to the laser with the wavelength range of 5~ 11nm and the energy of (1-4) J/cm2. Research indicates that the laser with the wavelength range of 65-9nm and the power less than 5mW can be used to promote hair growth. At present, laser hair growth products are generally 5mW power, 65-69nm wavelength, and there are 5-3 laser heads.
For the patients with androgenic alopecia, although the main cause of androgenic alopecia is DHT, its development is related to the hemodynamics such as the increase of blood flow resistance, blood stasis, the decrease of local vascular density in scalp and the decrease of angiogenesis around hair follicles. Studies have shown that laser with a certain wavelength can penetrate deep into subcutaneous tissue and reach the vicinity of hair follicle, which can not only activate angiogenesis near hair follicle, but also enter the mitochondria of hair follicle cells to stimulate ATP energy, which is obviously helpful to accelerate the proliferation and metabolism of hair follicle cells.
Laser therapy has two advantages:
1. Promote blood circulation near hair follicles and form new blood vessels;
2. Increase the production of ATP and promote the production of transcription factors, thus promoting the proliferation of hair follicle cells.
A blockbuster laser hair growth helmet
Around 211, a sensation happened in the field of hair loss treatment. A laser hair growth helmet passed FDA certification, and then went on sale in China.
the gold-lettered signboard of FDA. Minoxidil and finasteride were labeled as "FDA certification" when they were publicized, and the FDA only certified these two drugs for hair loss treatment, which shows how strict this certification is. If there is a third drug for treating alopecia that has been certified by FDA, no matter what the pharmacology of this drug is, it can be sold out of stock in China as long as it is listed. In the eyes of most people with hair loss, there is no doubt about the gold content of FDA. This little-known laser product has passed the FDA certification, which is definitely extraordinary.
however, it should be emphasized that the FDA is authoritative, but it has different standards in different fields. In the United States, any medical-related products must be certified by FDA before they can be legally sold.
laser devices belong to medical device certification, which is also called 51(k) certification. Americans classify medical devices into three types of risk levels, 1, 2 and 3, of which the first type has the lowest risk, such as gums and electron microscopy, and there is almost no risk; Category 3 has the highest risk and is generally designed for hospital operation. Laser helmet products belong to class 2 medical devices.
In addition, laser hair growth helmet certification is indicated as an auxiliary medical device, which is legal in the United States.
The auxiliary medical device means that I'm not playing the C position (game term, the role of main output), I'm just playing the auxiliary. If I lose this game, don't blame me! Therefore, this laser hair growth product is essentially an auxiliary hair loss treatment product, and the FDA has not made detailed certification and in-depth study on its hair growth effect, which is different from the standards in the medical field.
Results of combined treatment with drugs and laser:
1. Healing
Hair loss stopped, all hair loss grew out, and its distribution density, thickness and color were the same as those in healthy hair areas, and sebum secretion returned to normal;
2. Significant effect
Hair shedding stopped, hair loss and regeneration reached more than 7%, the distribution density, thickness and color were close to the healthy hair area, and sebum secretion was significantly reduced;
3. Effective
Hair shedding stops, and hair loss and regeneration reach more than 3%, including mane and white hair growth;
4. Ineffective
Hair loss regeneration is less than 3% or continues to fall off. Total effective rate = [(cured+effective+effective) cases/total cases] x 1%.
Auxiliary effect of laser therapy:
Laser can enhance the curative effect of drugs without risk. No matter whether you use finasteride or minoxidil, you can cooperate with laser therapy. Even if you use laser therapy alone, you can achieve a certain degree of recovery. In addition, laser therapy can also play a positive role in the recovery of hair transplant surgery. It is a necessary requirement for many high-end hair transplant institutions in the United States to use laser products after hair transplant. However, at present, the main problem of laser hair growth products is too high, and the price of 4~7 yuan makes many people flinch. Moreover, the effect of laser therapy alone can not be compared with minoxidil and finasteride. Its best positioning is still auxiliary, and we hope that it will have more potential to be tapped in the future.