The Science Behind Photobiomodulation: Can Light Really Make Hair Grow?
Around the world, 40% of men display visible hair thinning by age 35. The same is true for women, but by age 40. This can be caused from a wide range of factors: anything from poor diet to a natural hair loss caused by advancing age. For the millions of people facing thinning hair, solutions may feel elusive and impossible. However, recent technology has emerged that show promise at combatting this problem by encouraging regrowth using nothing but red and near-infrared light. Known as low-level laser therapy, LLLT has made significant progress in the last 2 decades, rapidly moving from a laboratory experiment to a consumer-grade product. But does it actually work? The Premise The premise of LLLT is based on a well known phenomenon called photobiomodulation. The science is simple. Inside the mitochondrial membrane of hair follicles, we can find a specific type of enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase. Also known as Complex IV, it accepts electrons from cytochrome c and reduces mol...
