Evaluating infrared light therapy devices can be confusing. There are many types of devices, all claiming similar effect of increased circulation, decreased pain, etc. in theory, these devices work under the same principles and laws of photobiomodulation. However, they are very different in terms of methods (wavelength, pulse rate, intensity, etc.) and applications (handheld or attachable).
Cold Lasers, Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Soft Lasers and LED's:
Lasers deliver collimated, coherent light. This simply means that the infrared light is focused in a column and does not disperse as much over the treatment area. Lasers also are monochromatic by definition, meaning they only emit one wavelength of light.
A light emitting diode (LED) is a semi-conductor device that emits incoherent narrow-spectrum light. Some LED devices are also monochromatic, such as the Dynamax Freedom100.
The infrared light from both lasers and LEDs disperse once the infrared light contacts tissue, so they look and act identically once they penetrate tissue. The depth to which they penetrate has nothing to do with whether the light is lased, but rather has to do with the wavelength and energy density.
Output from LEDs possess all the attributes of laser radiation except coherence. Findings at the cellular level would imply that the property of coherence is largely unnecessary for the clinical effects of these devices.
The first law of photochemistry, known as the Grotthus-Draper Law, states that "only light that is absorbed can produce a biochemical effect." Wavelengths are measured in nanometers (nm). Shorter wavelengths such as Ultraviolet are absorbed only in the surface of the tissue - and thus the effects (tanning, sunburn, melanoma) are at the surface of the skin. Longer wavelengths, such as infrared, penetrate deeper into tissue, but they are absorbed in the hemoglobin at various depths throughout the tissue. Visible red, green, blue and orange are shorter wavelengths and will have less penetration than infrared. Some LED devices are monochromatic and some are polychromatic, which means they deliver multiple wavelengths.
Most infrared light therapy devices pulse their infrared light to reduce tissue accommodation. This pulse rate is measured in Hz or pulses per second. Different pulse rates may have different effects and therefore, one cannot compare clinical research from one device that uses one pulse rate to another device that uses a different pulse rate and conclude that they will produce the same effects.
Male pattern baldness may not be considered to be clinically significant in the medical world as long as there's no underlying etiology, but that doesn't mean that today's man wants to spend his days walking around with people rubbing their heads for good luck! It might not mean instant death, but male pattern baldness can (in a strictly aesthetic sense) contribute heavily to a reduced quality of life. It can be demoralizing. Demeaning. Have a negative effect on their self esteem.
In short, it stinks.
Keeping that in mind, it's no wonder that scientists are working so hard to find ways to reverse hair loss in men. Not only is it a great service, it's good business. And the sooner they can find a way to reverse male pattern baldness the sooner men around the world can look forward to a lifetime of thick, healthy hair without all the anxiety of anticipating the day that thick, luxurious hair will start to thin out.
Male pattern baldness is a common enough problem. As a matter of fact, there's probably at least one person in your family that has suffered from male pattern baldness over the course of their lifetime. Just because it's common doesn't mean there aren't thousands of men around the world looking for a way to stop it-or trying to figure out the cause so they can recognize early on if they're vulnerable and take steps to delay onset until they find a solution.
The question is, what causes male pattern baldness? It's important to realize that this is a genetic condition. Sufferers are genetically predisposed to the condition, which is why you can almost guarantee that a man who has gone naturally bald also has at least one, but usually more, male relatives who have also gone bald. Men who go bald at a young age are usually predisposed to do that as well.
For as long as people have been plagued by hair loss they've been trying to find a way to make it stop. They've tried everything from hair and scalp transplants to hair weaves, markers (yes, it's happened), Rogaine, you name it, they've done it! If there's an herb or an ointment out there with a chance of restoring hair growth, it's been put to good use. Everything they've done to date, however, has a very inconsistent pattern of results.
The hair laser is, scientists hope, the latest and best non-surgical solution on the market. No, this isn't a laser guaranteed to point at your head and make hair appear. This isn't Star Trek! What it does do is encourage the body to start producing hair all over again.
Didn't you wish when you were younger that somehow, some way you could manage to stop your hair from falling out and clogging up the drain? Hey, cleaning those things out is disgusting! When you get older, however, hair loss takes on a whole new meaning. Whether you're talking about male (or female) pattern baldness, chemotherapy, hypothyroidism or any of a hundred other things that can make your hair decide to abandon ship, it pays to know what hair loss treatments are available on the market.
And it doesn't hurt to do a little scouting around to find out which ones are right for you while you're at it.
Before you get into hair loss treatments for those who are already losing their hair, let's take a second to talk prophylaxis. The best defense is a good offense, and the best way to make your hair stop falling out is not to let it start in the first place. Experts recommend that getting plenty of sleep and minimizing your stress levels are a great way to stop hair loss in its tracks. Coloring, frosting and perming your hair can damage the follicle, and constantly putting it up in rubber bands isn't doing it any favors either.
Doctors will tell you it's not clinically significant, but let's face it-when you're the victim male pattern baldness starts feeling pretty darn significant from your point of view. No, you're not going to keel over if your hair starts falling out. No, you're probably not going to have to be admitted to the hospital to receive hundreds of hair transfusions (although it would be nice if they would). No, it's usually not symptomatic of an underlying condition that's going to cut short your lifespan.
But the uncertainty and self consciousness that can accompany male pattern baldness, particularly early balding, can have severe and lasting detrimental effects on your quality of life. And nobody deserves that. Since you absolutely deserve the chance to look your best each and every time you walk out your front door, what's to be done about your hair loss?
Have you ever noticed how, ever since the discovery of the vaccine, we as a society just haven't been able to take things lying down? When something happens we don't like we have to get out there and fight against it, railing at the top of our lungs and doing everything we can to stop it in its tracks. Our ancestors would probably have looked at us like we were crazy, but when it comes to things like cancer, diabetes, smallpox and cholera you have to admit we've got the right idea!
That's the right idea that led to the invention of the DynaMax Freedom100. Balding might not be as detrimental from a medical viewpoint as cholera, cancer, smallpox or diabetes, but the damage it can do to your self esteem (and, consequently, your social life) can be just as bad. It's impossible to really enjoy life when you're spending most of your time hiding in the house trying not to see it, and that's not healthy for anybody. Fortunately, someone finally figured it out, stepped up to the plate and managed to do something about it.
Keeping that in mind, it's no wonder that scientists are working so hard to find ways to reverse hair loss in men. Not only is it a great service, it's good business. And the sooner they can find a way to reverse male pattern baldness the sooner men around the world can look forward to a lifetime of thick, healthy hair without all the anxiety of anticipating the day that thick, luxurious hair will start to thin out.
© 2010 Dynamax Hair System. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer: The Dynamax Hair Light Therapy are sold for cosmetic purposes only and are not medical devices.
This is not a medical device and it is not intended to treat any medical conditions . For any medical needs please consult your physician.
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