It may seem strange to hear about a laser being used for hair regrowth, but this type of treatment has been around for some time and was discovered accidentally by a scientist testing the effects laser radiation on mice. It was in 1967 soon after the first working laser was invented that Dr Endre Mester at Semmelweis, university in Hungary was carrying our research to see if laser radiation cased cancer in mice. No cancers were found, but what surprised him was that hair grew back much more quickly on a shaved test area of the mice than on the mice in an untreated group. This effect called low level laser therapy (LLLT) also known as laser biostimulation, photobiomodulation and cold laser therapy is now used for the treatment of hair regrowth.
Possibly due to the then high cost of laser technology, very little research was carried out over the two decades after the first experiments were conducted. During the 1980s LLLT started becoming available as an expensive treatment through a number of exclusive hair clinics. The lasers used were large complicated fixed devices where patients had to sit under a hood similar to a salon hair dryer. Treatments were performed as frequently as 2-3 times per week, this was often inconvenient for individuals who might have to travel many miles to the nearest clinic or salon. However the results achieved were very good and soon, many salons all over the Europe, Asia and later in the US began offering treatments.
This laser hair regrowth treatment has now been backed up as an effective hair loss treatment by many scientific studies. In 1982 Trelles, M., and Mayayo, E, published ?The Growth of Hair Under Laser Influence of the HE-NE Beam?. In this study, patients with alopecia areata responded with positive results after only 6 to 8 twice weekly treatments. Later studies in the 1990's tested lasers working at different wavelengths and pulsing the laser to find the most effective laser configuration for treating hair loss. Most therapeutic lasers now operate at a wavelength in the range 600-1000nm where the wavelength is related to how far the light penetrates the scalp. The best wavelength to use is still argued over but it should be sufficient to penetrate at least 5-6mm depth to target the hair bulbs. Many current LLLT devices operate using visible red light at a wavelength of 660nm which can penetrate down to a depth of about 8-10mm. Higher wavelength lasers at 800-900nm are also used these can penetrate to a depth of about 30-40mm but these are mainly used for treating joints and muscle related problems.
More recent LLLT laser hair regrowth studies have started to reveal the reasons why and how laser light therapy helps stimulate hair regrowth. These studies have shown that laser light increases the levels of a chemical compound called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is known to stimulate living cells including the hair follicles. LLLT also has the effect of increasing the circulation of blood to the hair root which delivers the nutrients to cells that make up the hair follicle. The increased blood flow is also thought to help flush away the damaging waste products that may affect the hair growth cycle. This helps to improve the scalp environment to help stop thinning hair and promote new hair growth.
Over the last few years laser technology has advanced to a stage where a laser devices can now be manufactured to a size smaller than your small finger nail and at very low cost. In 2000 a company developed and patented the first miniature LLLT laser hair regrowth device using the new laser technology. This made possible for the first time an effective LLLT hair loss treatment that was cheap and small enough be used in your own home without having to go to an expensive hair clinic. The new device comes in the form of a hair comb/brush that needs only be used for 10-15 minutes three times per week. The manufacturers claim that while users experience will vary, 45% of users will see positive results after 8 weeks of treatment with another 45% seeing benefits from 10-16 weeks onward.
In February 2007 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the laser comb device for use in the treatment of hair regrowth. The laser comb is now one of only three treatments cleared by the FDA for use in hair regrowth the others being Finasteride and Minoxidil. The laser hair regrowth device now brings new hope to the many men and women suffering from premature hair loss.
Overview With special mention to the various technologies of today, the usual unattended abnormalities for human features are slowly being given emphasis, one of which is Hair Removal. Excessive hair in various parts of the human body have become a bane for most people, especially the females, who have to resort to the traditional ways of taking out unwanted hair from their bodies. With the fruits of technology vastly being developed, such issues have been given the proper study and treatments have become numerous and welcome to people who consider such discomforts something critical in their daily lives, especially for people who are very much particular about their appearance.
Hereditary Growth Issues and Abnormal Growth People expect to land some hereditary traits passed on from their genes, and hair growth is something that goes along with this. All people, from teenagers to the adults consider such traits as a bane, having to attend to them regularly and take out these unwanted hair growth. Many have tried various techniques presented, largely manual means and taking medically developed chemicals to be able to prevent excessive hair growth, but these have not proven to be effective, especially for people who are quite particular about time consumption from their daily lives. They have to allot a certain period of their day towards doing these manual and temporary ways of hair removal just to be able to satisfy what they want to project when they interact daily.
Laser Hair Removal Laser hair removal has provided the consumers with a technology-developed means of being able to answer one of their bodily concerns. There is not control that such hair growth issues can be answered through the use of the manual means of medication or practices. At first glance, laser removal may be considered as a painful process to the clueless people of today, but in reality, laser hair removal is truly a pain-less procedure. Perhaps the only painful thing about it is the costs that are involved but the benefits after undergoing such a procedure will help most consumers use that small time for something more worthwhile.
The procedure itself depends on the part of the body, which it shall be made. For example, an entire back can be done in 1 to 2 minutes or an upper lip in less than 10 seconds. Not bad considering that a lifetime of grief can be treated in such a short span of time.
People who seek Hair Removal Teenagers are in the period of transition where they are becoming more aware and conscious of their physical appearance. This especially holds true towards the female population. While some hormones may find some women having excessive hair on their legs, armpits and lips, these can be answered by laser hair treatment.
Ordinarily, all males would prefer to have excessive hair in most parts of their body to retain that macho man look. For some however, the definition of excess hair may not sit well. The male population as well, seeks laser hair medical treatment for one reason or another, like for athletes; comfort is their most common reason for having such excessive hair removed to be able to perform up to par in the competitions they participate in.
Not to be left out, pregnant ladies can expect excessive hair growth during their time of pregnancy. This is not an abnormal occurrence; it is natural in the sense that the sex hormones known as androgens are increased in the first trimester of the pregnancy periods. Applying laser hair removal is considered safe, but however painful at this stage due to the load that they already bear while they are in this stage. However, all these excessive hair growth are expected to disappear three to six months after giving birth.
Permanent Hair Removal For most people who are tired of having to concern themselves with the excessive and abnormal growth of hair in various parts of their bodies, a permanent solution would be their immediate choice. Painless but costly, such a procedure would rid them of such problems and this would in turn be something worth their investment. Instead of having to rely on the temporary means of being able, to remove these unwanted hair growth in various parts of the body. Most people look towards permanent hair removal, and this is something that is really more realistic, especially for people who don't want to be able to be burdened by minor problems as having to be bothered by hair growth. Permanent laser hair removal, expensive as it may seem but less painful serves as the logical answer to most people, who consider abnormal hair growth an issue for them.
Both John Tulley & Ken Charnley are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
John Tulley has sinced written about articles on various topics from Site Promotion, RSS and Hair Care. More information on .John Tulley has written many articles on the subject of hair loss treatments and remedies.. John Tulley's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.
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