Laser Hair Treatment

It sounds like a gimmick that's too good to be true- a comb with a low level laser in it that you hold to your head for ten minutes a day, and voila, you have more hair. But while the jury is out on this device, the laser hair comb has legitimate dermatologists saying there may be some real benefit here for people fighting hair loss.

"I would constantly worry. Did they see my spot? Can they see my spot?" says Philis Esposito. She is an interior decorator. When she started losing clumps of her hair at the age of 30, she got creative to keep it a secret. "It's traumatic even for men, but for women, it's devastating." Philis exclaimed. "I tried wigs and hairpieces, doing anything I could to camouflage my baldness. It was terrible." Phylis tried several treatments. Some of them helped, but not enough. Her hair loss specialist recommended something called the laser hair comb. It's a device that exposes the scalp to laser light with the intent of stimulating hair growth. "I was sure it wouldn't work. I mean it's a little comb that you hold over your head." But to Philis' surprise, the laser comb did work! "I did see an improvement and I'm still seeing an improvement."

David Kingsley is a PhD who specializes in hair loss. He is one of the few practitioners in the U.S. who recommends the laser hair comb to his clients facing male pattern baldness, female hair loss, and an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata. "The laser hair comb seems to help the cells of the follicle work more efficiently, and encourage the follicle to get larger." Because it's a low level laser, it isn't like lasers we commonly think of that can cut through or burn tissue.

The patients say they didn't feel a thing, or maybe just a little bit of tingling, and they don't even know if that was caused by the laser. So for sure, there's no harm, even though there may also be no benefit. At first, Phylis used the laser hair comb three times a week for ten minutes each session. Now she's down to once weekly. "When you lose your hair it is a very psychologically damaging thing." says Kenneth Grosso who has also opted for the laser hair comb treatment. For Kenneth Grosso, who's 36, the laser hair comb was the latest of hair regrowth treatments he's tried. "I tried various things, like Rogaine, Minoxidil, and Propecia. Kenneth had a hair transplant which did well, but wasn't the ultimate outcome he wanted. He gave the laser hair comb a shot. Because he's still on other treatments, he's not sure what's working, but something is. "I'm definitely seeing some results." he says.

Dr. Neil Sadick is professor of dermatology at Weil Medical College of Cornell University. "It appears to be a promising technology. Its true efficacy will be determined on the basis of scientific studies that will objectively measure how much new hair can be grown with this technology." Sadick says the laser hair comb might be worth considering for those who have failed other treatments. "There's not enough good scientific evidence to show that there is significant hair regrowth, but if you want to try something that is non-invasive, and has no side effects, I think the laser hair comb is an option that can be utilized." reports Sadick. The hair comb costs just under $700. You can buy it over the counter through several internet sites. It should be pointed out that the FDA has not yet cleared the laser hair comb for hair regrowth claims. However it does conform to FDA safety standards. Ken didn't worry about that. "I know people that would spend any amount of money to get their hair back. I wouldn't spend any amount of money, but I would spend a reasonable amount because I know how important it is

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