ArticleMedical journal, Armed Forces India
Low-level light therapy versus topical 5% minoxidil in the management of androgenetic alopecia in males: A randomised controlled trial.
Article in Medical journal, Armed Forces India. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Full-Spectrum phototherapy in hair loss management: a systematic review of wavelength-dependent mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and future directions.Lasers in medical science · 2025Pooled it
- Promises and Pitfalls of Regenerative Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia: Platelet-Rich Plasma, Photobiomodulation, Stem Cells, and Exosomes.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Human-Centric, Three Dimensional Micro Light-Emitting Diodes for Cosmetic and Medical Phototherapy.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common non-scarring alopecia affecting men with progressive patterned hair loss and has significant impact on quality of life. Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are approved for the management of AGA. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) has recently been approved for the management of AGA. Aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of LLLT with 5% minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia. Methods: This study was a single-blind randomised controlled trial which included 91 male patients during the study period. Group 1 included 48 patients receiving 5% topical minoxidil application twice daily for 6 months and Group 2 included 43 patients receiving LLLT with the wavelength of 633 ± 10 nm three sessions per week each of 10 min for 06 months. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months with clinical photography and dermoscopy. The data was analysed using SPSS ver 20. Results: Out of 91 enrolled, 75 completed the study (38 in group 1 and 37 in group 2). At the end of 6 months, 7(18.4%) showed no change, 20 (52.6%) showed mild to moderate growth, and 11 (28.9%) showed excellent growth in the minoxidil group. In the LLLT group; 10 (27%) showed no change, 21 (56.7%) showed mild to moderate growth and 6 (16.2%) showed excellent growth. The mean hair density in the minoxidil group at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months was 97.6 ± 21.6, 116.4 ± 20.4, and 134.6 ± 24, respectively. The mean hair density in the LLLT group at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months was 104.8 ± 22.7, 117.3 ± 25.1, and 130 ± 25.7, respectively. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in hair density and improvement in clinical photography from baseline at 3 months and 6 months in both groups. There was no significant difference in the two groups at 3 and 6 months. Conclusion: The results of the LLLT group were comparable to the minoxidil group. No major adverse effects were found in the groups and can be used safely in the treatment of AGA. CTRI Registration no: CTRI/2020/12/030007.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.