Are there any side effects when using HairMax Devices?

When deciding on which hair loss treatment is right for you, one of the main considerations is always what side effects might there be.

Genetic hair loss has only 2 FDA-Approved drug treatments, Minoxidil and Finasteride. Of which Finasteride can only be taken by men and the potential side effects of Minoxidil can be off putting for women.

After these 2 drug treatments, the most widely accepted hair loss treatment is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). HairMax are the pioneers of the home use LLLT device with the first ever FDA-clearance achieved in 2007. HairMax are still the market leaders with over 1.5 million devices sold since 2007 in over 170 countries.

One major advantage of using a HairMax laser device to treat your hair loss, is that there have been no reported harmful side effects from using the treatment. Part of the HairMax treatment is to encourage a greater blood flow to the scalp, and there is a small incidence of reports from HairMax users that their scalp feels tight. This is caused by the increase in blood flow, and with time the scalp will grow accustomed to this and no longer feel tight.

It is possible to have slight allergic reactions to the Laser treatment, with redness and itching on the scalp. If you see this reaction please cease the treatment and your scalp will return to normal.

Another major advantage to the HairMax treatment, is that is only requires a one of purchase of the device. Medication treatments have ongoing costs to them and will prove to be far more expensive than a HairMax device in the long term.

Minoxidil, on the other hand, does have some common side effects. These include dizziness, drowsiness and temporary swelling. Other less common side effects include nausea, breast pain/tenderness and changes in the colour, length or thickness of body or facial hair. This last side effect is the most potentially worrying side effect for women, which is why Minoxidil is normally recommended in lower doses for women. At this lower dose, the effectiveness of the Minoxidil is going to be lower than the doses usually recommended to men.

Allergic reactions to the Minoxidil will lead to hives, difficulty breathing and swelling of the face. In total, the potential issues Minoxidil can cause are far greater than that of HairMax devices.

Finasteride, is a prescription only medication for men, which again can lead to some quite harmful side effects in a small percentage of users. Finasteride is the most effective hair loss treatment available but the common side effects of the drug are impotence, a low libido/sex drive, decrease in semen production and ejaculation problems. For men already suffering from hair loss, these sexual side effects have a devastating effect on their mental health. A less common side effect is sore, swollen or tender breasts.

When deciding the best treatment for your hair loss, be sure to consider and understand all of the potential side effects, you may face from your treatment of choice.