Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Feb 1;51(2):179-183.
doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000004442. Epub 2024 Oct 15.

Low-Level Laser and LED Therapy in Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sofia M Perez  1 , Mounika Vattigunta, Colin Kelly, Ariel Eber
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Low-Level Laser and LED Therapy in Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sofia M Perez et al. Dermatol Surg. .

Abstract

Background: Low-level laser/LED therapy (LLLT) has been described as a treatment option for alopecia, but no study has comprehensively reviewed its efficacy in multiple alopecia types.

Objective: To review and evaluate LLLT for various alopecia types.

Materials and methods: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL was conducted to identify studies assessing the effect of LLLT on patients diagnosed with alopecia. Prespecified outcome measure was the change in hair density. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate the standardized mean difference in hair density before and after LLLT compared with placebo.

Results: Thirty-eight studies were included that described 3,098 patients with androgenetic alopecia (2,930/3,098), scarring alopecia (49/3,098), alopecia areata (50/3,098), telogen effluvium (17/3,098), and chemotherapy-induced alopecia (32/3,098). The mean change in hair density increased significantly in androgenetic alopecia patients after LLLT for 4 to 26 weeks compared with placebo (<20 weeks: SMD = 1.14; 95% CI [0.51-1.78]; p = .000; I 2 = 88.26%; >20 weeks: SMD = 1.44; 95% CI [0.97-1.91]; p = .000; I 2 = 80.81%). Change in hair density was reported in 5 studies evaluating other alopecia types; however, statistical information was insufficient for meta-analysis.

Conclusion: LLLT is a promising treatment option for patients with androgenetic alopecia, but future studies are needed to better understand its efficacy in other alopecia types.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Leavitt M, Charles G, Heyman E, Michaels D. HairMax LaserComb laser phototherapy device in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled, multicentre trial. Clin Drug Investig 2009;29:283–92.
    1. Lueangarun S, Visutjindaporn P, Parcharoen Y, Jamparuang P, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of United States Food and Drug Administration-approved, home-use, low-level light/laser therapy devices for pattern hair loss: device design and technology. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2021;14:E64–E75.
    1. Huang YY, Chen AC, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR. Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose Response 2009;7:358–83.
    1. Gerkowicz A, Bartosinska J, Wolska-Gawron K, Michalska-Jakubus M, et al. Application of superluminescent diodes (sLED) in the treatment of scarring alopecia - a pilot study. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2019;28:195–200.
    1. Tawfik AA, Mostafa I, Soliman M, Soliman M, et al. Low level laser versus platelet-rich plasma in treatment of alopecia areata: a randomized controlled intra-patient comparative study. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022;10:420–7.

LinkOut - more resources