An interventional study of Sciton HALO 1470nm Non-ablative laser in Scarring Alopecia and Androgenetic Alopecia, sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-01.
Sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Single-center, open-label, baseline-controlled, pilot study evaluating the use of a Nonablative 1470 nm laser for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and scarring alopecia.
Single-center, open-label, baseline-controlled, pilot study evaluating the use of a Nonablative 1470 nm laser for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and scarring alopecia. The study may enroll up to 10 participants looking for improvement in their hair loss. All participants will have biopsy-proven alopecia before enrollment. There will be two treatment arms with 5 participants in the androgenetic alopecia arm and 5 participants in the scarring alopecia arm. Multiple treatment areas of the scalp may be performed. Each subject will receive up to three treatments. Follow-up visits are planned for months 6, 9, 12, and 15. Standardized photography, hair density measurement of the treated scalp areas will be recorded Pre and Post Treatment at each visit. Measurement outcomes will be compared to baseline. During the initial visit, subjects who meet the study's eligibility criteria will receive the first treatment after signing informed consent form.
For this study, the investigators will use non-ablative HALO laser (1470nm) (Sciton). The non-ablative fractionated treatments with minimal downtime provide synergistic benefit of minimizing tissue damage while improving treatment tolerance and efficiency. The laser works by creating micro-channels in the dermis of the pilosebaceous unit, while leaving bridges of untouched tissue for improved permeability, faster healing, and enhanced delivery of topical treatments. The laser creates controlled zones of coagulation within the dermis. The parameters of the laser will be set according to optimal operation protocol and in accordance with guidelines set forth by Sciton. Each laser treatment will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes per subject. Pretreatment procedure will consist of topical anesthetic then cleaning of the affected area of the scalp with antiseptic, either 70% ethanol or 3% hydrogen peroxide. Post-treatment care will follow standard of care, including the application of topical betamethasone dipropionate cream 0.05% to the treated area. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the 1470 nm laser for dermatologic purposes. This study will use the laser off-label for the treatment of alopecia. This laser has been approved for the treatment of skin, however, it has not been tested for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia or scarring alopecia, thus this is a novel study to investigate its effectiveness
The follow up phase will consist of clinical assessments including before and after photographs graded by blinded observers and hair density evaluation using Canfield HairMetrix ® device. Subjects are instructed to inform clinical staff after the treatment if they experience any adverse events and will complete patient questionnaires, pain score, and self-assessment of hair growth.
511 studies on the registry are indexed under Alopecia; 128 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 10 is below the median of 50 across 430 interventional studies indexed under Alopecia.
Browse Alopecia studies →Montefiore Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 416 studies on the registry; 69 are open to participants now.
Of its 87 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 76 (87%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
History or current use of the following prescription medications:
i. Immunosuppressive medications/biologics, 6 months prior to and during the study ii. Accutane or other systemic retinoids within the past twelve months
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Biopsy and archival tissue
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The parameters of the laser will be set according to optimal operation protocol and in accordance with guidelines set forth by Sciton. Each laser treatment will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes per subject to target androgenetic alopecia.
Device: Sciton HALO 1470nm Non-ablative laser
The parameters of the laser will be set according to optimal operation protocol and in accordance with guidelines set forth by Sciton. Each laser treatment will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes per subject to target scarring alopecia.
Device: Sciton HALO 1470nm Non-ablative laser
Patients will be treated with the 1470nm non-ablative laser.
Live and Photographic assessment of hair loss
Live and Photographic assessment of hair loss will be assessed using the 7-point Clinician rated Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (CGAIS). The GAIS is a standardized tool used in dermatology and aesthetic medicine to evaluate treatment success for hair loss (such as androgenetic and scarring alopecia). The 7-point GAIS is scored using a scale ranging from -3 (Greatly decreased - hair growth and density) to 3 (Greatly increased - hair growth and density). A score of zero represents no change.
Time frame: Month 1 (baseline), Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, Month 15
Hair Density
Hair density will be assessed using the Canfield HairMetrix imaging device. The average number of hairs per follicular unit will be summarized by arm using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: Month 1 (baseline), and during the four follow-up periods at Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, and Month 15 (i.e., up to 14 months after initial treatment)
Hair Counts
Hair counts will also be assessed using the Canfield HairMetrix imaging device. Hair counts/cm\^2 will be summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: Month 1 (baseline), and during the four follow-up periods at Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, and Month 15 (i.e., up to 14 months after initial treatment)
Subject Satisfaction - Overall
Overall subject satisfaction will be assessed using a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Participants will be asked to complete the assessment while referring to their image in the mirror and current post-treatment photos compared to baseline photos. Specifically, participants will be asked to "Please choose the option that better represents the change in how your hair looks OVERALL in the area treated?" using a scale ranging from -3 (Greatly decreased) to 3 (Greatly increased). A score of zero represents no change. Scores will be summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, and Month 15
Subject Satisfaction - Hair Thickness
Subject satisfaction with hair thickness will be assessed using a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Participants will be asked to complete the assessment while referring to their image in the mirror and current post-treatment photos compared to baseline photos. Specifically, participants will be asked to "Please choose the option that better represents the change in your hair THICKNESS in the area treated?" using a scale ranging from -3 (Greatly decreased) to 3 (Greatly increased). A score of zero represents no change. Scores will be summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, and Month 15
Subject Satisfaction - Hair Shedding/Loss
Subject satisfaction with hair shedding/loss will be assessed using a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Participants will be asked to complete the assessment while referring to their image in the mirror and current post-treatment photos compared to baseline photos. Specifically, participants will be asked to "Please choose the option that better represents the change in your hair SHEDDING/LOSS in the area treated?" using a scale ranging from -3 (Greatly decreased) to 3 (Greatly increased). A score of zero represents no change. Scores will be summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, and Month 15
Subject Satisfaction - Hair Darkness
Subject satisfaction with hair darkness will be assessed using a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Participants will be asked to complete the assessment while referring to their image in the mirror and current post-treatment photos compared to baseline photos. Specifically, participants will be asked to "Please choose the option that better represents the change in your hair DARKNESS in the area treated?" using a scale ranging from -3 (Greatly decreased) to 3 (Greatly increased). A score of zero represents no change. Scores will be summarized by study arm using descriptive statistics.
Time frame: Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, and Month 15
Subject Satisfaction - Satisfaction with Treatment
Subject satisfaction with treatment will be assessed using a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Participants will be asked to complete the assessment while referring to their image in the mirror and current post-treatment photos compared to baseline photos. Specifically, participants will be asked "How would you characterize your satisfaction with the treatment?" based on the following ordinal scale: Very Satisfied; Satisfied; Slightly Satisfied; Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied; or Dissatisfied. Results will be summarized by study arm.
Time frame: Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12, and Month 15
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.