The HairMax Lasercomb® is a hand-held device that delivers low level laser therapy (LLLT) to the scalp as it is combed through the hair for 10-15 minutes three times a week.
Laser treatments to any part of the body are thought to provide energy to damaged cells to speed their recovery, increase formation of capillaries to bring better blood flow and improve the cell’s ability to take on nutrients. The question is, can all this help a person grow more hair?
The Lasercomb is believed to work by improving blood circulation to the scalp and stimulating the hair follicles to pass through the catagen (resting) and telegen (shedding) phases of hair growth faster thus pushing the follicles into a new anagen (growth) phase to increase hair growth overall. Users are supposed to be able to see a difference in their hair growth within 8 to 12 weeks though it might take as long as 20 weeks.
Studies do support that the HairMax Lasercomb can regrow hair. However, in forums comments are divided as to how effective and satisfied people are. Studies for men showed that 93% had measurable hair growth within 6 months. Clinical studies for women are in progress but appear to show similar results. I asked Candace Hoffmann, author of "Breaking the Silence on Women’s Hair Loss", about the Lasercomb and she suggested I look at Dr. Mary Wendel’s website, the director of the Woman’s Hair Loss Center in Worcester, Mass.
Dr. Wendel’s website enthusiastically endorses the use of laser therapy for hair regrowth and the center sells the Lasercomb as well as providing laser treatments in their office. I spoke to Dr. Wendel’s hair consultant Nancy Ryan who explained that, “ the Lasercomb works best if women are committed to regular use and remedy other issues that can cause hair loss such as vitamin deficiencies or stress caused hair loss first.”
The biggest downside to trying the Hairmax Lasercomb is the cost--over $500. One woman in a forum, wrote she had participated in a previous clinical Lasercomb study and that she had also used progesterone cream. She felt that both the Lasercomb and progesterone cream were equally effective in preventing further hair loss. She did not feel either really promoted more growth. Other forum postings are divided between people who feel Lasercomb really helped them and others who feel that they wasted their money.
My conversation with Nancy Ryan confirmed my thought that certain types of hair loss may respond better to the Lasercomb. “Male pattern baldness” is a specific type of hair loss called androgenetic hair loss and is related to DHT hormone levels. Women with this form of hair loss may have good results with the Lasercomb but if hair loss is from diseases such as thyroid or diabetes, stress from infections or surgery or even from alopecia areata, results could vary.
In the quest for products that will help prevent hair loss and promote regrowth, the Lasercomb sounds like it works for some of the people some of the time. You may have to try it to determine if you will fall into the lucky group provided you have a spare $500 to buy one.
Sources:
www.hairmax.com/
www.drmarywendel.com/staff.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/12/health/he-nuskeptic12
http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/12/06/will-the-laser-comb-really-help-hair-grow/
http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve?s=5696015661&cdra=Y
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele can be read at http://www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles