Recently, I’ve noticed many people on social media complaining about hair loss or balding. Some have started using hair growth helmets. This made me recall that people often ask doctors about the differences between various brands of these helmets. What’s the difference? There are both LLLT laser models and LED models available. But do these helmets, which you wear for just a few minutes a day, really work? Can they help with hair loss? Today, I’ll explain.
What is LLLT Laser?
LLLT, or Low-Level Laser Therapy, uses low-frequency lasers with a wavelength between 650-680 nm. It’s a visible red light. When the low-frequency laser is applied to our scalp, it absorbs the energy and stimulates the cells, enhancing their performance.
LLLT helps improve the hair follicles and blood circulation, allowing more nutrients to nourish the hair. This leads to better hair growth, reduced hair loss, and thicker, fuller hair.
Besides hair growth, LLLT lasers also aid in healing wounds on the scalp, reducing inflammation. This is particularly beneficial for patients who’ve recently had a hair transplant, as it improves results, speeds up healing, and strengthens new hair, reducing the risk of further hair loss.
What is LED?
LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode. Its function is to emit light, and the light produced by LEDs has minimal heat, so little that you can touch it with your bare hands. While LED does emit some waves, those waves don’t stimulate hair follicles effectively.
Differences Between LLLT and LED
The main difference between LLLT lasers and LED lights can be summed up as “works” versus “doesn’t work” (haha). As explained earlier, LLLT lasers emit low and continuous frequencies to stimulate hair follicles. In contrast, LEDs emit similar but intermittent frequencies that do not help in stimulating hair follicles. However, what LED does have over LLLT is its significantly lower price.
Benefits of LLLT Laser
- Safe with no side effects
- Helps hair follicles function better, improving the quality of new hair growth
- Increases hair thickness and fullness
- Reduces hair loss
- Reduces scalp inflammation
- Heals scalp wounds, making it ideal for recent hair transplant patients
Limitations of LLLT Laser
- Not suitable for people who are fully bald or have no remaining hair follicles
- Overuse may cause dry scalp, even though it’s generally safe to use frequently
- Results take longer compared to other methods, requiring discipline, patience, and consistency from the patient
Conclusion
LLLT lasers work by emitting low and continuous frequencies that stimulate hair follicles, leading to better-functioning follicles and healthier, fuller new hair growth. They also help heal scalp wounds and reduce hair loss. On the other hand, LED lights simply provide illumination and do not stimulate hair follicles. LLLT is safe and free of side effects but yields slower results compared to other hair restoration methods. It’s not recommended for those who have no hair follicles left.
