Red Light Therapy for Hair Loss: Does it Show Any Promise?

If you’re struggling with hair loss, there’s a chance you might’ve stumbled upon at least a couple of influencers with receding hairlines preaching that red light therapy has helped them achieve a head full of healthy hair.

However, health and beauty tips from random people online should be taken with a grain of salt — and as a former doctor who loves a little myth-busting on the side, I was eager to shatter the idea of using a coloured lamp for stimulating hair growth.

After reading a bunch of scientific articles, I’m here to tell you what I’ve managed to find about red light therapy and its potential effects on hair growth, as well as inform you about its risks and safety concerns.

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy, or RLT, is a type of light-based treatment that uses wavelengths of low-intensity red and near-infrared light to penetrate the body tissues, aiming to promote various health benefits. You may also find RLT commonly referred to as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or soft laser therapy, among other names.

It’s been suggested that RLT may help increase the production of energy in the cells, stimulate the processes related to tissue repair and renewal, impact how the body cells grow and divide, as well as potentially help lower oxidative stress, which is associated with cell damage.

Emerging evidence suggests that all of these potential effects at the ‘invisible’ level may lead to observable health effects, including:

• Relief from joint and muscle pain
• Improved skin appearance and health
• Faster healing of certain wound types

Can red light therapy help hair growth?

My need for myth-busting, sadly, wasn’t quite satisfied: emerging research suggests that red light therapy may be useful in helping regrow thinning hair.

However, it’s important to mention that hair loss may be caused by many different reasons, including genetics, stress, health problems, or even dieting. And while RLT has been shown to be potentially helpful in regrowing hair over time, it’s been suggested to only work in certain cases, which we’ll go over in the next section.

Some of the reasons behind hair shedding may require timely medical attention. If you’re currently experiencing hair loss, talk to your healthcare provider first. They’ll point out the cause behind your problem and will tell you if RLT might be a potentially effective option for you as part of a hair loss treatment plan.

In what cases of hair loss can red light therapy be useful?

A brief heads-up first. Currently, RLT is not recommended by any major health bodies for the treatment of any cause of hair loss. The potential uses of red light therapy are only suggested by emerging research, and as it’s a relatively new method, the knowledge about RLT is still pretty limited.

Androgenetic alopecia

The largest body of scientific literature explores the effect of red light treatment on hereditary hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, the most common cause of hair thinning.

A 2016 systematic review published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine has suggested that red light therapy may help hair growth by improving hair count.

Similar conclusions were made in another review published in 2021 — it’s been shown that RLT could be a safe, non-invasive method with the potential to trigger hair growth in people of all genders, with one included study even suggesting RLT to be as effective as minoxidil (a medication used to stimulate hair growth).

To add, the results delivered by RLT for the management of hereditary hair loss have been acknowledged by the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is a disease in which a person’s immune system attacks their hair follicles, eventually leading to hair loss. A case study published in 2023 has suggested that red light treatment may show promise in managing alopecia areata.

However, this amount of evidence is extremely limited and insufficient to draw definite conclusions. More studies are needed to determine if RLT could be an effective option for triggering hair growth in this disease.

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a type of usually temporary hair loss that leads to shedding. It’s often associated with hormonal changes, certain medication use (or discontinuation), as well as conditions that put the body under huge stress, such as illness, surgery, or major trauma.

Researchers of a study published last year have looked into whether RLT could help manage telogen effluvium in the course of long COVID. Their results have suggested that red light therapy may be a safe adjuvant therapeutic option in these cases, potentially leading to faster reduction of hair loss, improved hair growth, as well as improved hair density and hair shaft thickness.

However, this is just one study. And while it has suggested red light therapy to be potentially effective in managing telogen effluvium in people with long COVID, we don’t know if it could help if this type of hair loss was associated with other factors. Again, more research is needed.

How could RLT help regrow hair?

While some studies have shown positive results in managing certain types of hair loss, it’s still unclear how red light therapy works for hair and what exact mechanisms are involved in the process.

It’s been proposed that red light treatment may act on hair follicles in several ways, including:

• Helping re-enter the growth phase in the hair growth cycle
• Prolonging the duration of the hair growth phase
• Promoting cell repair and regeneration
• Potentially affecting inflammatory processes, which in turn affect the hair follicles

Red light therapy for hair 101

If you’re experiencing hair loss and are interested in giving red light therapy a go, there are some things you might be curious about. We’re here to answer them.

This article is by no means a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. As mentioned earlier, if you’re struggling with hair shedding, you should see your healthcare provider first, so they can diagnose the cause and tell whether RLT is safe for you or could be potentially helpful in your case.

At-home vs. in-clinic RLT: what’s the difference?

If your provider has given you the green light for trying out red light therapy, you may choose whether you want to do it on your own (while, of course, being under the guidance of your doctor), or if you’d like to undergo professional treatments.

Professional red light therapy sessions are applied in clinics by board-certified dermatologists (skin and hair doctors). They may use more powerful tools than those you can purchase for at-home use, as well as incorporate other lines of treatment. In-clinic red light therapy may also be customized according to your individual needs.

On the other hand, at-home red light therapy devices for hair growth — caps, combs, or helmets that usually contain light-emitting diodes (LEDs) — may be used alone or following a professional treatment, helping maintain treatment consistency at your own home.

Are at-home devices safe?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared several at-home red light therapy devices for stimulating the hair follicles and helping with hair growth. However, most RLT devices designed for at-home use are not evaluated by authoritative bodies, therefore, their safety remains unknown.

It’s also impossible to tell how the effectiveness of at-home devices compares to those applied in clinical studies and used by professionals at clinics.

How do I use red light therapy for hair growth?

While the currently available findings on the effects of red light therapy for managing certain types of hair loss seem promising, there are many things we still don’t know about it, including how to, for how long, and how often to use it for stimulating hair follicles and triggering visible hair growth.

What we know for certain is that RLT may take time and repeated treatment sessions to deliver results, and it’s not a one-and-done treatment.

The absence of universal recommendations is another reason for seeing a healthcare professional before trying out RLT. They can guide you by suggesting an individually tailored regime, no matter if you decide to undergo professional treatments or stick to at-home sessions.

If you’re planning to purchase an over-the-counter red light therapy device for hair growth, make sure to read the instructions carefully. Do not exceed the amount of treatment time recommended, and always use the device as intended by the manufacturer.

Is red light therapy for hair safe?

It’s been suggested that in the short term, red light therapy is likely to be generally safe for most, if used as directed. It carries a minimal risk of side effects, and if any are experienced, most commonly, they’re mild, such as skin irritation or pain.

There’s no data on whether red light therapy is safe to use in the long run. More research is needed.

Who shouldn’t try RLT?

Certain people are recommended not to use red light therapy — even in the short term — due to insufficient evidence about RLT device safety or a higher risk of side effects. This includes pregnant and lactating people, those with cancer, as well as those with health conditions that may cause photosensitivity or those using drugs associated with increased photosensitivity.

What is photosensitivity?

Photosensitivity is an increased sensitivity to light sources, including sunlight and red light.

For example, rosacea, a skin condition characterized by excess flushing and redness, may make people more sensitive to light. Certain medications, including antidepressants, hormonal contraceptives, or even a commonly used painkiller, ibuprofen, may also lead to a higher risk of adverse skin reactions.

The AAD emphasizes that dark skin tones are more sensitive to light than light skin, suggesting being more cautious with red light for people with darker skin tones.

How do I keep myself safe during RLT sessions?

It remains unknown whether red light can be harmful to the eyes or not. Therefore, it's important to avoid direct eye exposure and wear protective goggles during every session.

While there’s no direct evidence to support this, there have been some individual concerns online about whether red light therapy is safe for those with low blood pressure or thyroid problems.

Consult your doctor before starting to use red light therapy for hair, even if you don't have any chronic health issues.

Other methods for treating hair loss

There are generally effective treatments available for certain types of hair loss, and in some cases, it may be possible to reverse hair loss or at least slow it down.

Hair loss is generally managed according to the cause behind it, as well as the affected person’s health status, and other relevant factors. If an underlying medical condition is causing hair loss, doctors recommend treating that condition. If a medication is responsible for the hair loss, your doctor might recommend discontinuing it for several months.

For example, the treatment of hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss) may include:

• Applying medications such as minoxidil (Rogaine) to your scalp
• Taking finasteride, which is a pill prescribed for men only

Doctors may suggest taking other medications to promote hair growth. A hair transplant surgery is also an option.

Various styling techniques in cases of male pattern baldness may help improve your appearance and feel more confident. A hairstylist may be able to offer suggestions tailored to your needs, like recommending avoiding hairstyles that put tension on the hair follicles.

Your healthcare provider will tell you whether red light therapy could be an effective hair loss treatment alternative in your individual case.

Red light therapy for hair loss: the takeaway

While there’s much we still don’t know about red light therapy, currently available evidence suggests it to be a promising treatment option for stimulating healthy hair growth and addressing certain causes of thinning.

If you’re considering giving red light therapy for hair loss a go, consult your healthcare provider first to determine the cause behind hair thinning and whether it's a suitable treatment for your specific hair loss condition.