Hamilton classification. Sketches of the categories of scalp hairiness, classification and grading of the extent of common baldness.

A double-blind comparative study of laser treatment with placebo laser (LED) for treatment of Hereditary Androgenic Alopecia in young males.

Abstract

A double-blind placebo controlled study was carried out to evaluate the effect of laser therapy by comparing HLTC laser therapy (InGaAl,670 nm) and a placebo laser(LED). The duration of hair loss and baldness, according to Hamilton classification, were recorded. A skin biopsy for histological examination was taken before and after treatment. In addition, a photograph was taken of the patients at the same time. Hair shaft thickness was measured with hair stretcher equipment where the hairs can be stretched on a graded scale from 0-10, normal value of hair shaft stretching is set at 5.

All patients, with the exception of one, in the laser-treated group showed a complete stop of hair loss. All patients, except 3, showed a clear regrowth of hair with a reduction of at least one category in the Hamilton classification.

The results were confirmed by histological examination. Pre-treatment typically showed the dermis with large, relatively normal amounts of follicles. Most of them were in the telogenphase and did not show any real hair. Some of the follicles were widened with keratin taps at the follicle opening.

Post-treatment showed the dermis with almost the same amount of hair follicles as pre- treatment, although a number of new follicles could be seen with clearly noticeable hair growth. 50% of the follicles are now in the anagenphase.

A clearly visible re-growth of hairs were found in post-treatment sample comparison

When comparing the histological findings, transformation into more anagenic hair follicles could be observed in 83% of the patients on laser treatment but in none of the placebo patients. Out of 18 patients, 14 showed an increase in hair thickness, and all 18 showed improvement in general hair shaft quality measured with the hair stretcher. The results showed no improvement in the placebo group or any adverse effects of the treatment. The present double-blind study definitely showed that re-growth of new hairs can be achieved in most middle-aged and younger males, with typical male baldness when the scalp is irradiated with HLTC laser therapy for 30 minutes weekly, with follow-up maintenance treatments.

Laser Science AB's comments

• Clients undergoing treatment with HLTC laser therapy may experience a sensation of heat and a prickly feeling from the neck to the forehead during treatment.
• Furthermore, initially, a greasier scalp is usually noticed. The scalp normalizes after a few more treatments (on average between 2 and 4).
• Conversely, a scalp that was greasy before treatment, starts to normalize as described above. This condition has not been fully explained but is believed to be the result of the normalization of the sebum (lipid) secretion from the sebaceous gland during treatment.
• The sebum (5a-reductase) is thought to play a role in hair loss and re-growth. The described reaction to treatment is a natural reaction which indicates that therapy is working.