たとえば下記に紹介をしたのが低レベルレーザーはどのようなものかを紹介しているアメリカの研究発表の一部となります。これまでに何度も低レベルレーザーに関しては紹介をしてきましたが皆さんにご紹介をする際にはこのようなものをいくつか参考にした上で新しく発表されたデータを掲載させていただいています。

たとえばこの中で書かれている内容を一部紹介したいと思います。

光の光子が物体に当たるとそのエネルギーはどこにいくのか？光子が物体に当たって放出するエネルギーはそのレーザーの波長によって物体を通過して細胞や分子にエネルギーを供給します。

以前にもお話をしましたが育毛を目的としたレーザーも数社が発売しておりますがここにまずひとつ問題があります。髪にもっとも有効とされる波長のレーザーを照射している機械は極限られております。ちなみにアメリカのＦＤＡで承認された機械は皮膚表面から約１０ｍｍの深さまで効果があると言われており、髪全体の組織が表面から約５，６ｍｍの深さまでされていることから毛包全体をカバーすることができ、効果を発揮します。

同じ低レベルレーザーで波長が違うとより深い場所でエネルギーを放出することから筋肉や関節などに治療に用いられているそうです。そのために髪に対してもっとも有効とされる波長の光子を照射するのは限られたものです。それを知らずしてどんな低レベルレーザーをつかっても同じ結果を得られるものでありません。

血行の促進だけではなく、男性ホルモンの抑制や動物などと同じように数年に一度に起こる髪の生え換わり（ヘアサイクル）が短縮化してしまった進行性の抜け毛や薄毛のヘアサイクルを再度伸ばす効果があるそうです。その証明のひとつとしてレーザーの使用開始後、髪の伸びるのが早くなったと実感される方がたくさんいます。

そのために以前にお話しをしたようにミノキシジルなどによって生え出した新しい髪が産毛のままで留まってしまっていたものがレーザーとの併用によってその産毛が順調に成長する効果があります。

また皮脂分泌の抑制や皮膚のトラブルの改善にも役立つとされております。

医療機器ではないにしても日本と一番異なるのはこのような新技術を大学研究者だけではなく、医師が積極的に治験を行い、実証データがこのように紹介されます。

そのような中で購入するとどうしても毎日つかったほうが効果が早く得られるような印象をもたれるのですがこれらも本来は正しい使い方があります。直接的な熱や刺激を感じないとはいえ、髪の奥底まで照射された光子によって得られるエネルギーを過剰に与えるのも疲労骨折やオーバーワークのようになってきてしまいます。

そうならないように正しい知識を持って利用いただければこれまでに得られることができなかった改善を感じることができるようになると思います。

どのようメカニズムで効果が表れるのか？類似したものでは異なる結果になる可能性があるのか？利用するのであれば注意はどんな事があり、もっとも有効な使用方法はどんな方法か？

これを日本のように一部民間発毛クリニックが独自に開発した育毛剤やシャンプー。その効果を検証することが本来は必要なのですがそのような環境が全く揃っていない日本はどうしても育毛に関してはあまり技術進歩が進まない理由のひとつだと思います。

When a PHOTON hits an object, what happens to its energy? If the photon (light) reflects from the surface of the object, the photon retains its energy. If the photon is transmitted further (beyond the object), it likewise retains its energy. If the photon gets absorbed by the object however, its energy is delivered to the atoms and molecules of the object.

Depending upon the wavelength (and hence the energy) of the absorbed photon, several scenarios may occur. This absorbed energy may result in heat oscillations, i.e. the atoms/molecules become hot, if the energy is low. If the absorbed energy is higher, the atoms and molecules of the object can become excited and/or ionized. If the energy absorbed is high, it can cause the break up of chemical bonds in the atoms/molecules of the object and result in the formation of new compounds.

Laser light then, consists of photons of a specific wavelength, i.e. PURE LIGHT, and hence, a specific energy level, which can interact with a given object. The results of that interaction are dependent upon this specific wavelength (energy level).

MEDICAL LASERS

There are many different types of medical lasers available, but they can be classified into two main groups:
HIGH POWER LASERS cut coagulate and evaporate tissue. These are also known as Surgical Lasers because they replace the scalpel of the surgeon. These lasers produce photons (light) of high energy.

LOW LEVEL LASERS stimulate cell function. The effect is not thermal as in the case of surgical lasers. These non-surgical therapeutic lasers are certified Class 3A by the FDA. The energy produced by the photons of these lasers is low and does not have a thermal component that can cause injuries to users and/or operators. This low level energy does not alter molecular structures, but STIMULATES the body’s mechanisms to REPAIR AND HEAL itself.

Low level (energy) laser light photons are absorbed by the chromophores within the cells. This induces increased production of cellular energy in the form of ATP, which leads to normalization of cell function, pain relief and healing. These effects are especially striking in areas of the body where cells are under stress.

The photo-energy from these low level lasers is low and remains a long way below the levels needed for ionization of the atoms and molecules of the cells. Thus no induction of cancer growth has been linked to these lasers. The risk of eye injury is almost non-existent, but goggles are recommended.

LLLT FOT HAIR LOSS (ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA)

WWhat type of laser device would benefit patients with androgenetic alopecia? The devices being promoted must be safe for use. They must be effective to meet the manufacturer’s claims. The consumer must know what he/she is buying, and the device must not expose the consumer to undo risks.

The therapeutic factors in choosing a laser are as follows:

The wavelength of the light is important as it determines penetration depth in the target tissue. For example, red light at 670 nanometers penetrates greater than other lasers close to the red spectrum. Since wavelengths of 670-690 nanometers support the oxidation processes, it is believed that the 670 nanometer wavelengths show better efficacy in therapeutics than lower wavelength lasers.

For hair applications, the first and most significant condition in choosing laser wavelength is depth penetration, which should be sufficient to target hair bulbs typically resting at 5-6 mm depth.

Visible red light at a wavelength of 660 nanometers penetrates tissue to a depth of 8-10 mm so that the entire hair organ will be covered to a depth just beyond the hair bulb. Visible red light could theoretically be effective in the entire scalp and might include wounds, cuts, scars, folliculitis, etc.

There is the question of continuous wave vs. pulsed operation of the laser. Pulsed operation has been shown to stimulate tissue repair and regeneration to a greater degree than continuous wave operation. Pulses have been shown to stimulate cellular activity. Pulses can regulate biologic rhythms or cycles. Finally, pulsed operation exhibits greater anti-inflammatory effects than the continuous mode.

The GOAL of LLLT is to increase the circulation of the blood to the follicle area and to stimulate the hair organs (nerves, muscles and growth centers of the follicle). The effects of LLLT to stimulate, enhance or speed up the normal life cycle and production cycle of the exposed hair follicles is presently being studied and will fast become the science by which this technology will be judged:

In 1996 Pontien published a Microcirculation study with the Laser Hair Care Device and showed an increase in blood flow.

In 2005 Weiss and McDaniel showed that photo modulation using visible light can alter the expression of genes associated with the stimulation of hair growth. They described it as more of a “minoxidil-like” effect.

EFFECTS OF LLLT

The physics of laser light, along with its known properties, led the way to a practical application for low energy lasers in medicine. Various studies have confirmed these properties on the living organism. Taken together, the data points to the following effects of low level laser light on the scalp:

Increased scalp blood flow and microcirculation by 20-30%

Increases nutrient supply to enhance hair growth

Stimulates and accelerates hair growth

Stops the progression of hair loss

Repairs and improves hair shaft quality

Reduces excess levels of skin 5 alpha reductase and DHT which contribute to genetic thinning

Relieves scalp conditions such as psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, itchy/scaling scalp (anti-inflammatory properties)

Normalizes sebum production (also increases production in under activity and dryness and decreases production in over activity or greasiness

Reduces tight, tender scalp

These effects also make LLLT excellent adjunct therapy for pre-operative and post-operative Hair Restoration procedures.

TREATMENT PROGRAMS

IIn developing treatment programs with LLLT one must first consider whether the treatment will be administered with a Class 3A laser machine, with a hand held laser device, or with both.

The larger Class 3A Laser Machine is a patented cool laser which creates a soft halo of light around the scalp. The light is delivered from multiple rotating laser positions designed to increase blood flow to the scalp. There are 30 diode lasers rotating in a half sphere around the head delivering pulsed low laser energy to the scalp. This requires twice weekly or more visits to the clinic. The use of adjunct products, including a vasodilator, is recommended. FDA approval for the use of this laser for hair loss is pending.

The hand held laser comb is a hand held wand-like instrument with laser light ports arranged across its surface like the teeth of a comb. It is used at home 3 to 4 times weekly for 10-15 minutes per use. It is easy to use and convenient for the patient, so compliance is high. FDA approval for its use for hair loss is pending. It is accepted as a medical device in Canada. This allows advertising to make therapeutic claims about the hand held laser device such as its ability to increase the strength of scalp hair in men and women, its ability to prevent scalp hair loss in men and women, and its ability to cause re-growth of scalp hair in men and women.

Studies with the hand held laser comb have reinforced these claims:

In 2003, Martin Unger showed that LLLT has been found to have biomodulating effects on human hair and hair follicles. 97% of the patients studied had some benefit in improvement of hair characteristics, stabilization of hair loss or hair re-growth (defined by Unger as an increase of hair count by 11% or more from baseline).

Santino and Markou, in 2003, studied 35 patients (28 males, 7 females) with androgenetic alopecia on the LaserMax Comb. The treatment regimen was an every other day application of the comb for 5-10 minutes for 6 months. The results showed that, all patients considered, 93.5% of patients had a hair count increase and 78.9% had an increase in hair tensile strength.

There are ongoing FDA trials for men and women with thinning hair. These individuals undergo two treatments per week with the hand held laser comb for 6 months. All of the details of the trials are not available but preliminary results show that in men, 10% had stabilization of both frontal and vertex hair loss, 84.6% had re-growth of some hair in the frontal area and 82.8% had re-growth of some hair in the vertex. In women, 100% had stabilization of hair loss in the vertex, 87.5% had stabilization of hair loss in the frontal area, 75% had re-growth of some hair in the frontal area and 96.4% had re-growth of some hair in the vertex. Thus far, no side effects or eye damage has been reported.