Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Sep 2019)
Photobiomodulation for the management of alopecia: mechanisms of action, patient selection and perspectives
Abstract
Michael R Hamblin1–3 1Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; 2Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; 3Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USACorrespondence: Michael R HamblinWellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USATel +1 44 7710 980821Email [email protected]: Photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy was discovered over 50 years ago, when Mester in Hungary observed regrowth of hair in mice when irradiated with a ruby laser. At the present time, several different PBM devices are marketed to assist with hair regrowth in alopecia patients. This review covers the three main types of alopecia (androgenetic, areata, and chemotherapy-induced), and discusses the mechanism of action of PBM for each disease. The different devices used (mostly low powered red laser diodes), dosimetry, animal models, and clinical trials are summarized. Criteria for patient selection are outlined. Finally a perspectives section looks forward to the future.Keywords: photobiomodulation therapy, androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, hair follicles
