Photobiomodulation and alopecia: a crowdsourced survey study on patient preferences

ABSTRACT

Photobiomodulation is a treatment option for hair loss and is currently FDA cleared for androgenetic alopecia. There are a variety of photobiomodulation devices intended for at-home patient use. However, data examining user preferences is lacking. A social media-based, online survey study was completed to understand patient preferences when selecting a photobiomodulation device. Secondary outcomes examined patient experience with the device. Sixty participants responded to the 21-question survey. The majority of participants had never used a photobiomodulation device (n = 50; 86.2%). Most respondents (n = 40; 67.8%) felt the efficacy of the device was the most important aspect to consider when selecting a photobiomodulation device. Additionally, a majority of participants thought 15 (n = 22; 37.3%) or 20 minutes (n = 17; 28.8%) would be a reasonable treatment duration and would prefer a hand-free device (n = 51; 86.4%). Of the eight participants who had used a photobiomodulation device, only one was dissatisfied with the device and discontinued treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Photobiomodulation
• hair loss
• alopecia
• low level laser therapy
• patient preferences

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical statement

The University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board determined that this study qualified for exemption status given that the research only includes interactions involving survey procedures. Additionally, the information obtained in the study was recorded in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was required for this study. Full disclosure of each author: Briana Paiewonsky: No conflicts of interest to report. Margo Winter: No conflicts of interest to report. MacKenzie Griffith: No conflicts of interest to report. DrMaria Hordinsky: No conflicts of interest to report. DrRonda Farah: No conflicts of interest to report. HairMax, iGrow, Capillus, Revian Red, and Theradome devices have been donated to the University of Minnesota for an unrelated research project.