Sponsored By Lutronic and SKINQRI;
Thinning hair problems span across patient genders, ages and ethnicities, and is among the top aesthetic concerns. According to the American Hair Loss Association, 1 about 85% of men experience hair loss by the age of 50, and about 40% of hair loss sufferers are women. The emotional impact of hair loss, particularly for women, can be quite substantial. Experiments utilizing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and similar products to address scalp and thinning hair concerns – both with and without assisted delivery – have yielded varying and unpredictable results.
Enter KeraLase, a combination of KeraFactorMD serum from SKINQRI (Lincolnshire, Ill.) and the LaseMD Ultra™ from Lutronic Corporation (Billerica, Mass.). This protocol takes advantage of the unique properties of the serum, which is able to penetrate the scalp’s surface via the dry channels created by the LaseMD Ultra’s thulium laser. Users report restoration of the hair and scalp that is better and more consistent than ever seen with PRP.
KeraFactor products are the result of six years of research into the cause and treatment of thinning hair, designed specifically for improving the scalp and hair health. They are composed of various proteins and growth factors delivered in nanoliposomes (under 200 nm in size) to facilitate delivery without causing skin irritation. Its target is the hair follicle, deep within the skin at the basal epidermis, to stimulate neovascularization, microcirculation and other processes that restore and maintain hair and scalp health.
“PRP does work, but research has shown that while some PRP growth factors promote hair growth, others are negative for hair growth. Compared with PRP, selection and concentrations of growth factors are highly customized in KeraFactorMD to produce more consistent needle-free outcomes,” explained facial plastic surgeon Arash Moradzadeh, MD (Beverly Hills, Calif.) who has a robust hair restoration arm within his private practice. “Growth factors that may inhibit or not help with hair health are not included. In addition, there are growth factors and other compounds like the nanofluorosome that help with reduction in inflammation and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).”
KeraFactorMD reportedly contains the highest concentrations available, from 50 to 1,500 times what is available in PRP, depending on the growth factor, and contains nanofluorosomes – strong anti-inflammatory and antiandrogenic compounds wrapped in nanoliposomes – that can be activated by laser hair caps emitting power in the range of 630 nm to 690 nm, which are often already employed by hair restoration clinics as well as patients at home. SKINQRI offers devices for this very purpose, according to Dr. Moradzadeh.
LaseMD Ultra is the second generation of the venerable LaseMD. Designed for a wide variety of skin revitalization procedures, its aspherical lens allows for greater beam diameter (200 µm to 350 µm) and scan size (up to 6 mm x 10 mm) with consistent, precise energy delivery. Emission of laser micro-beams is randomly distributed by the scanner to prevent hotspots or the usual visible grid-like pattern. It is ideal for this treatment because while it creates nonablative dry channels, the aggressiveness can also be modulated easily to accommodate the needs of the procedure, and as such, it has been used with a variety of topicals to facilitate penetration of safe actives.
Microbeams from the 20 W, 1927 nm thulium laser employed within LaseMD Ultra create the non-ablative dry microchannels in the scalp, which allow for penetration of the powerful KeraFactorMD serum. This allows for five to seven times greater absorption of nanoliposomes, such as those used in KeraFactor products.
“Without these dry channels the compounds will not penetrate,” Dr. Moradzadeh explained. “A roller or microneedle device would create oozing channels that would not have the same effect.”
While results may vary, outcomes will manifest over several weeks as the patient begins to notice an improvement in scalp health, improved hair shaft size and thickness, and even the appearance of new hair in active follicles. “What I normally see first is improvement in scalp health, which for my patients tends to be poor initially. This is followed by a reported reduction in shedding; they notice less hair on their pillow, less hair is coming out when they brush their hair or in the shower. This then translates into increased hair density as the total number of hairs on their scalp at any given time is much higher, so they are getting a noticeable improvement in fullness and hair quality.” A full course of KeraLase typically consists of a series of six sessions spaced about four weeks apart.
Treatment is painless and fairly comfortable, so no anesthetic is needed for the laser treatment, which is performed first. “We then apply the KeraFactorMD product, which has an applicator built into the packaging that is ideal for treatment,” Dr. Moradzadeh explained. “The serum is massaged into the scalp. The entire process takes maybe 15 minutes depending on the hair length of the patient and other factors, but it is very quick, easy and comfortable for the patient. They can go about their normal business afterward.” After treatment, it is recommended that patients not wash their hair until the next day to allow the KeraFactorMD serum to work.
Home-use products are highly recommended after treatment, according to Dr. Moradzadeh. “Hair and scalp revitalization is best targeted consistently and from multiple angles. While you can expect results without home-use products, such as those in the SKINQRI KeraFactor hair care line, I think you enhance results significantly with their use,” he stated. “We usually have our patients go home with the KeraFactor Combo Kit, which includes the same serum that we use during the procedure, but at a lower concentration (KeraFactor Scalp Stimulating Solution) for daily use. There also is a proprietary KeraFactor Scalp Stimulating Shampoo they are able to use in the shower. It is applied to their scalp and left on for two minutes before rinsing.”
LaseMD Ultra is also ideal for combining with other modalities. Any skin type can be treated due to the customizability and precision of the laser treatment, which is gentle enough to treat stubborn pigment.
Reference:
1. American Hair Loss Association website, accessed 24 October 2023. https://www.americanhairloss.org
