Abstract:

Cheng Haiyan, Zhuo Fenglin, Zhao Junying Department of Dermatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China Corresponding author: Zhao Junying, Email: zjy63014411@aliyun.com 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low?level laser therapy （LLLT） for androgenetic alopecia, and to compare the therapeutic effect of LLLT alone versus in combination with finasteride tablets. Methods Thirty?nine male patients were randomly divided into the LLLT group （n = 21） and combination group （n = 18） to be treated with LLLT alone or in combination with oral finasteride tablets （1 mg/d） for 6 months. LLLT was given twice a week, and each session lasted 30 minutes. All the patients were photographed and asked to fill a questionnaire about subjective symptoms, and hair density （the number of hairs per unit area on the scalp） was determined by using a dermatoscope to evaluate the grade of alopecia, before the treatment, and 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Results The hair density in the LLLT group was significantly higher after 6 months than after 3 months of treatment and before the treatment （184.59 ± 21.17 vs. 169.24 ± 29.21 and 166.67 ± 32.94 hairs/cm2, both P < 0.05）, but was insignificantly different between before and after 3 months of treatment （P > 0.05）. The hair density in the combination group significantly increased after 6 and 3 months of treatment compared with that before the treatment （201.80 ± 16.55 and 186.39 ± 17.97 vs. 157.85 ± 27.97 hairs/cm2, both P < 0.05）, and was significantly higher after 6 months than after 3 months of treatment （P < 0.05）. No significant difference was observed in hair density between the two groups before the treatment （P > 0.05）, but the combination group showed increased hair density compared with the LLLT group after 3 and 6 months of treatment （both P < 0.05）. After 6 months of treatment, LLLT alone was effective in 17 patients, but ineffective in 4 patients, and the combination therapy was effective in 16 patients, but ineffective in 2 patients, with no significant difference in the response rate between the LLLT group and combination group （χ2 = 0.057, P > 0.05）. During the treatment, 24 （62%） patients felt less greasy, and 22 （56%） reported less hair loss, with no discomforts reported by the patients except local warm feeling. Conclusion LLLT is indeed effective for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia with no adverse reactions.