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February 2007 saw the 'Hairmax
LaserComb' gain the approval of the American Food and Drug
Administration. After many years of research and clinical
studies the low level laser therapy was approved for use as
an hair retention aid. The history of low level laser light
therapy is synonymous with the work of the Hungarian
scientist Endre Mester. During the 1960s, Mester studied the
effects of low level radiation and found that it had
profound effects on wound healing and pain relief.
Studies
using rats and rabbits found that the use of low level
radiation increased wound healing more quickly than
controls. One of the reasons for this is that the laser
improves vasodilatation (blood flow) to the area of the
wound which is also the principal behind the use of
Minoxidil as a hair loss treatment because Minoxidil is
a chemical vasodilator.
Laser
light therapy has been used for the treatment of hair
loss in many salons and health clinics for many years
but until now the treatment was inaccessible to many
due to the cost of treatment and the size of the
machines used made home use impractical. The
introduction of the Hairmax LaserComb has made the
treatment of hair loss for both men and women safe and
cost effective for use at home.Like many drugs, Minoxidil
originally started life as a
treatment for something else. In the case of Minoxidil,
it was taken orally (brand name - Loniten)
for the treatment of high blood pressure. A side effect
was discovered i.e. the slowing down or even the
reversal of hair loss and balding.
A 2% and 5% Minoxidil
topical version was developed by
Upjohn Corporation
for the treatment of Baldness with the brand name
Rogaine in the United States and Regaine in Europe.
It is believed that
Minoxidil helps hair grow because it acts as a blood
vessel vessel dilator or vasodilator. This means it
allows more oxygen get to the hair follicle which helps
it grow. |