The evolution of red light therapy has been clear for all to see over the course of the last decade or so. From brand new products to numerous studies being released to help increase public support and trust, it has been truly wonderful to see. That is, of course, especially true if you’ve used red light therapy for an ache or illness that you’ve been suffering from in that time.

In particular, something that’s been gaining some real traction is the support and care given to those who suffer from hair loss. This is a problem that people of all ages have to deal with, and it happens for a variety of different reasons. While it may still be prevalent, methods like red light therapy have really helped to minimize the overall impact and even assist with hair growth.

Today, we want to analyze that effectiveness. After all, it’s all well and good to buy or try something based on word of mouth, but it’s even better to see some actual data to use as strong evidence. Sure, some may still choose to be skeptical, but we hope to change that.

What is red light therapy?

On the face of it, we can understand why some would choose to run a mile at the mere mention of red light therapy. It can come across as a pretty overwhelming thing to experience when, in reality, that isn’t the case at all. You may be exposing your skin to a light, device, or laser, but it offers up so much more than that once you get over the initial surprise of it all.

Red light therapy uses wavelengths that are being transmitted to parts of your body. The parts in question aren’t functioning in the way they should or may well be injured in a general sense. At that stage, RLT can assist with deep tissue problems to the point where you could start to feel like a brand new person in the blink of an eye (well, it’ll take a bit longer than that, but you get the idea).

Red light therapy is a type of photomedicine that can really improve your circulation and, from there, offer you an entirely new perspective on your physical and mental health. Yes, you’ll take huge steps toward feeling like an actual human being, but you’ll also be free to take on tasks and challenges that were previously unthinkable.

Why do we lose our hair?

It’s hard to face up to something that’s incredibly uncomfortable or difficult to talk about. Unfortunately, losing your hair isn’t a rarity in this life, and it’s silly to pretend like that’s the case. There are millions of people across the globe who have either already lost their hair, are in the process of doing so, or are expecting it to happen one day.

So, why does it happen? There are many reasons, actually, and we won’t be able to get into every single one today - but we felt like it was important to run through a couple of the hard hitters.

This is a journey that someone we all know has taken at one stage or another, and because of that, it’s important to be understanding.

1. Illness or disease

Whether it’s expected or it comes out of the blue, illness can creep up on us at any point in our lifetime. It’s never simple, and it’s never easy, with one of the most common illnesses related to hair loss being cancer. It’s one of the biggest physical steps to overcome in terms of your overall appearance, and it largely stems from chemotherapy, which targets rapidly growing cells.

There are also diseases out there that lead directly to hair loss, such as alopecia. The immune system attacks hair follicles and can be fairly aggressive in doing so, leaving a substantial void around both your body and, specifically, the hair on your head. It may not seem like the end of the world, but it can be seriously detrimental to your mental state.

2. Stress

Everyone has to deal with stress in their life, and if you don’t, then we applaud you — or we think you’re Pinocchio. It can be anything from money problems to personal issues and beyond, but as many health services have come to confirm, stress can be one of the leading causes of hair loss, especially if you go too long without trying to rectify what’s standing in your way.

After a major surge of stress or change to your body, up to 70% of your hair in the anagen stage prematurely enters the telogen phase, which can lead to hair loss. It’s not something to be taken lightly, and if you begin to notice the early signs, our recommendation would be to seek out some help - especially while it’s not too noticeable. 

3. Pregnancy

We’re going to speak a bit more about the telogen effluvium we touched on a moment ago because it’s a really important piece of the puzzle when it comes to the question of pregnancy. Whether it be the shock of becoming pregnant or the ordeals that you have to go through during the pregnancy itself, telogen effluvium is the kind of hair loss that happens when your body goes through a big change.

It can first appear during the first trimester, and while it should discontinue as time goes on, that isn’t always the case, and some people may not be that patient. It’s definitely something worth talking to your midwife about if only to double-check what’s going on.

4. Iron deficiency

We’ve all been sick and tired of listening to people (probably parents or grandparents) talk to us about our diets and what we should and shouldn’t be putting in our bodies. As it turns out, however, it may be worth listening to because it could be the difference between living a healthy life and living one that creates more than a few burdens.

If you don’t get enough iron in your diet, it’s not at all uncommon to start seeing hair shedding. If that doesn’t immediately present itself, then you may begin to find that your hair won’t grow past a certain length. If that happens, then it’s time to start looking up some iron-rich foods.

5. Genetics

Sometimes, you get dealt a tough hand, and that includes hair loss. Everyone grows and loses hair at a different speed in their lives, with some having a full head until 100 and others losing theirs at the tender age of 25. It’s not exactly a lucky dip, though, as it can come down to genetics and how your family history factors into the equation.

There can be folate deficits within you that lead to hair loss, with the most obvious change often coming on your head. Of course, even if this is something that you’re starting to expect, there are always going to be ways to help slow it down and give yourself a few more options.

The benefits of red light therapy for hair loss

This is where red light therapy steps in. As you can probably imagine, there’s no promise of a miracle cure here by any stretch of the imagination - and that’s never been the advertisement. It’s all about steady, gradual progress, and making the kind of inroads that are going to be beneficial in the long run.

There are plenty of different ways in which red light therapy can be used for good, but we’re opting to focus on three above all others. It may not seem like much on the face of it, but this is exactly the starting point you need.

1. Dermal papilla tissues

Dermal papilla tissues isn’t a term or phrase that you hear every single day, but in equal measure, it’s also more important than you could possibly realize. A few years back, researchers conducted a study to analyze men with pattern hair loss to see the changes in their tissues.

They received 25 minutes of red light therapy treatment over six months, with the proteins being up-regulated. The RLT reversed the miniaturization process of balding and enhanced the function of the dermal papilla cell, bringing forward a whole new realm of possibilities within the field. The word ‘revolutionary’ is a big one, but it rings true.

2. Generating more energy

The great thing about red light therapy is that once you’re settled into a nice routine, the positive impacts are there not just for you to see but for those around you to see, too. In terms of the actual science behind it, a report has indicated that the wavelengths can stimulate the mitochondria in your cells, which reduces oxidative stress and ensures your body can create more core energy.

It will, therefore, allow your body to power itself, which helps the healing process, lowers inflammation, and can reignite the process of regrowing your hair. It’s going to take a more structured lifestyle to get this working in the long term, but if you’ve come this far, then something tells us you’re more than happy to commit.

3. No side effects

One of the best things that can be said about red light therapy also happens to be one of the big selling points: it isn’t attached to any side effects. You may think, based on your own theories, that the opposite would be true, but it really isn’t. While a plethora of other hair growth techniques and products have side effects that can stay with you for weeks and months, the same just can’t be said for RLT.

For your own peace of mind, that alone should be seen as an absolutely huge item in the ‘pros’ column. We’re all pretty familiar with the adverts that pop up on television that promote the idea of getting rid of any pains we have. We’re also well aware of the many side effects they list off at the last possible second, with the hope we won’t pay attention (but we do).

Try red light therapy today

In a lot of ways, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what we believe is possible with red light therapy, especially with respect to its relationship with hair loss. It’s a complex and evolving method of helping people from around the globe, and in reality, one of our biggest aims is to spread the word — not just for personal gain, but because it can literally change the lives of so, so many.

Here at NovaaLab, we have a selection of different products for you to choose from as you begin to take the steps necessary to get back to 100%. This isn’t the sort of quick-fix promise that a lot of companies will give because we understand that everyone moves at their own pace, but what we will say is that our reviews indicate overwhelming success in the years we’ve been operating.