Hair loss treatment has turned some new pages in recent years. For the current generation of Americans, there are more options than ever before. For the majority of people, these are not reasonable options; they cost far more than the old standbys, wigs and toupees. Some “new” hair loss treatments do not pass muster, and they cost an arm and a leg. Besides that, the consumers who buy these products lose money that they could have used for something truly beneficial.

We could naturally expect that the aging population of the planet would be running to get the latest proven hair loss treatments, if any of them had a high success rate. Moreover, if all these hair growth treatment claims were true, wouldn’t consumers spread the good news by “word of mouth”?

One “new treatment” is the laser comb. Its looks like a replay of an old idea used in beauty parlors during the middle of the 20th century. At that time, cosmetologists used a contraption that held a special fluorescent bulb; the wavelengths of the fluorescent light spectrum were touted to help restore dead hair follicles to life. This device has passed into obscurity (for obvious reasons).

The cost of the laser comb ranges from $370 to $500, depending on the seller. That is a hefty investment for any product that has no independent, unbiased test results. The manufacturer does NOT claim that the comb restores dead hair follicles. However, consumers who are losing hair are urged to use the product to prevent further hair loss.

The laser comb received marketing clearance from the Food and Drug Administration in 2007. However, this agency does not have the authority to require test results for this kind of consumer product before the fact.

The FDA’s medical device clearance procedure is not the same as the one used for prescription medications. It merely certifies that a device is similar in function to a device that is already on the market. That is hardly a resounding endorsement of the effectiveness of the laser comb.

Therefore, consumers who invest in the laser comb must do so at their own risk. Unless consumers suffer injuries from its use, the FDA can only require that the laser comb manufacturers change the wording of their advertisements if it is turns out to be an ineffective hair loss treatment.