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A randomised, split‐face comparison of facial hair removal with the alexandrite laser and intense pulsed light system
Author(s) -
McGill D.J.,
Hutchison C.,
McKenzie E.,
McSherry E.,
Mackay I.R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.20584
Subject(s) - medicine , intense pulsed light , patient satisfaction , hair removal , hirsutism , polycystic ovary , dermatology , surgery , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , insulin resistance
Abstract Introduction Despite the high incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women attending for facial hair removal there are few studies looking specifically at this patient group. We carried out a split‐face study directly comparing the efficacy of a 3 milliseconds pulse duration alexandrite laser with the Lumina IPL system in 38 women with PCOS. Materials and Methods Each patient underwent six treatments using both systems, with 1, 3 and 6 months follow‐up. Hair counts, hair‐free intervals and patient satisfaction were recorded for all patients. Results After six treatments, alexandrite laser treatment resulted in longer median hair‐free intervals when compared to IPL (7 weeks vs. 2 weeks; P < 0.001). Decrease in hair counts was significantly larger on the Alexandrite side compared to the IPL side at 1, 3 and 6 months (52%, 43% and 46% vs. 21%, 21% and 27%; P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction scores, using linear analogue scales (LAS), at 1, 3 and 6 months were significantly higher for the alexandrite laser than the IPL (8.7, 7.8 and 7.7 vs. 5.7, 5.1 and 5.1; P ≤ 0.002). Conclusions The alexandrite laser resulted in significantly longer hair‐free intervals, a larger reduction in hair counts and greater patient satisfaction than the IPL and appeared to be more effective in this patient group. It is clear from the results in this study that the GentleLase alexandrite laser is more effective at reducing facial hirsutism in women with PCOS than the Lumina IPL. It is probable that this is due to the specific wavelength, short pulse duration and single pulse delivery of the GentleLase alexandrite laser, resulting in more follicular destruction than the IPL. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:767–772, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.