Did you know that more than 35 million men and 21 million women in the United States suffer from excessive hair loss?

If you’re one of them, you know better than anyone else how difficult it can be to slow down your hair from thinning. You’ve probably heard of, or even tried, pills, creams, and other solutions that claim to work.  And even if they do work, with these you’ll have to worry about their side effects.

But you probably already know that, which is why you’re curious about red light therapy.

Let us assure you, red light therapy is safe and shows promise in research and studies. Moreover, it’s completely natural and can increase hair count, density, and thickness for both men and women without troublesome side effects.

If you’re interested to find out more, you’re in the right place. Today we’re going to answer a few questions about red light therapy to help you decide if it’s the right solution for you.

What Is Red Light Therapy? 

 

 

Before we explain what red light therapy is, it’s necessary to talk about red light in general.

Red light is part of the visible wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum and shouldn’t be confused with infrared light or ultraviolet light. The latter are invisible to the naked eye.

Red lights are also bioactive in humans. This means that our bodies react to it much like plants respond to sunlight at the cellular level.

As you might have already guessed, red light therapy is a kind of phototherapy that uses wavelengths of around 700 nanometers (red light).  It uses high-power LEDs to imbue your body with a spectrum of restorative light.

While the treatment uses visible light, in a range of colors, red light and infrared light work best for many conditions, such as hair loss. Sunlight indeed provides the entire spectrum of wavelengths, which includes red light. However, it also consists of harmful UVA and UVB wavelengths.

By only using the red light frequency we’re eliminating side effects such as burning or skin damage.

Does Red Light Therapy Regrow Hair?

Research has shown that red light therapy is an effective and natural treatment for hair loss and can, therefore, help regrow hair.

One of the most common signs of aging is Androgenetic Alopecia or common hair loss. In fact, over 50% of men of age 40 and above and 75% of women of age 65 and above suffer from hair loss.

The good news is that red light therapy can both prevent and reverse hair loss. Treatments have been shown to increase hair count, hair density, and hair thickness for men and women. Since it’s a safe and natural option, red light therapy is gaining popularity with professionals and the public alike.

And it’s also supported by several peer-reviewed clinical types of research, trials, and meta-analyses.

How to Use Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth?

Red light specifically in the 620 nanometers to 660-nanometer wavelengths is effective. What this light does is increase your blood flow in the scalp. This in turn stimulates the metabolism in hair follicles.

The result is the production of more hair.

When you’re losing hair, you only lose your hair and not the follicles. Follicles are tube-like structures that secure the hair to the skin. Now, follicles have something called the hair bulb at the base that is shaped somewhat like a tall vase. The round part of the vase contains the papilla and the matrix, which is where hair begins to grow.

You may already know that hair is made up of a protein called keratin. If the cells of the papilla, the matrix, and the hair follicles cease to function properly, hair growth slows down or stops altogether.

When red light therapy penetrates the skin to reach the base of the hair follicles, it stimulates the cells, the papilla, and the matrix. This causes them to produce more energy and replicate more effectively.

This successful replication leads to new hair growing from the previously passive follicles.

Red Light Therapy Benefits

Exposure to red light can have many benefits. You can think of red light as food for your body; it provides nutrients that can contribute to your body’s well-being. Some of the benefits are outlined below.

Increases Production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP):

ATP is a coenzyme that is in charge of fueling cellular structures. Higher levels of ATP help the cells in the hair follicle to become more active. This includes how fast they replicate.

If the energy of the cellular structure of the hair follicles gets restored, the papilla produces more keratin. This results in the growth of new hair.

Stimulates Collagen Production:

Collagen is a type of protein that behaves like an antioxidant to prevent damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds that the body produces when it’s under stress, near environmental pollutants or when the body doesn’t get enough nutrients.

Free radicals can harm hair follicles and prevent them from growing hair. With more collagen present in the body, the oxidative damage will be less, which means more hair growth.

Higher Rate of Capillary Creation:

With new capillaries, the blood flow to the scalp increases. This means that the hair follicles get more oxygen and nutrients and the waste gets removed efficiently.

Improved blood flow to the scalp can be linked to the growth of thicker and healthier hair.

Red Light Therapy for Hair at Home

In case you’re wondering if you can treat hair loss at home, the answer is yes, you absolutely can!

With the help of a quality and high-output LED device, you can treat alopecia and many skin conditions in the comfort and privacy of your own home. You’ll most likely not get the same results if you opt for cheap helmets, wands, or face masks. This is because they will not be able to deliver the necessary light output to have your desired therapeutic effect.

Restore Your Confidence Along With Your Hair

Hair loss takes an enormous mental toll on both men and women. With a healthy growth of hair on your head, you can get back your diminished self-esteem and confidence.

Not everyone can pull off the bald look.

Consider giving red light therapy a shot if you have suffered from hair loss and ineffective treatments.