Evaluation of Alexandrite laser, nd : yag laser and intense pulsed light for axillary hair removal ; a prospective randomized controlled trial

Other Title(s)

تقييم ليزر الالكسندريت، الليزر(ND: YAG)‎ والضوء النبضي المكثف لإزالة الشعر الإبط: دراسة استباقية عشوائية

Author

Ghali, Nahla R.

Source

Tanta Medical Sciences Journal

Issue

Vol. 1, Issue 1 (31 Mar. 2006), pp.26-36, 11 p.

Publisher

Tanta Medical Sciences Society

Publication Date

2006-03-31

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

11

Main Subjects

Public Health
Medicine

Abstract EN

Background / Aim : using the concept of selective photothermolysis a variety of laser and light systems have been developed to remove unwanted hair.

The aim of this work is to conduct a prospective randomized controlled study addressing the practical interest of comparing efficacy, safety and tolerability of three popular systems ; Alexandrite laser, ND : YAG laser and IPL, with different wavelength for axillary hair removal in different skin types.

Patient and Methods : A prospective randomized controlled study was done on 120 female cases.

Subjects were randomly classified into 3 equal groups ; group A treated with alexandrite laser, group B with ND : YAG laser and group C with IPL.

Patients were scored according to their skin types (Fitzpatrick skin type) : 22 patients had skin type III (18.3 %), 67 patients had skin type IV (55.8 %) and 31 patients had skin type V (25.8 %).

Four sessions were carried out at 4-6 weeks intervals.

Follow up, clinical evaluation ; photographs and hair reduction ratio were evaluated before each session and 6 months after last session.

Subjects completed questionnaires assessing tolerability and satisfaction at the last follow up.

Results : based on subject's questionnaires, all systems were almost equally tolerable.

Subjects expressed satisfaction earlier with alexandrite laser than ND : YAG and IPL.

A decreased rate of satisfaction was noted with darker skin types but it was not statistically significant.

At the 6 months follow up, the greatest hair reduction was seen with alexandrite laser 83.11 ± 7.9 and was found to differ significantly from both ND : YAG and IPL.

There was no significant difference between ND : YAG (60.63 ± 13.82) and IPL (55.70 + 13.05) in hair reduction ratio.

Side effects including pain and hyperpigmentation were observed more frequently with alexandrite laser and darker skin types.

Conclusion : Alexandrite laser can achieve excellent long term hair removal after a series of four treatment session with more efficacy and patient satisfaction than ND : YAG and IPL.

In the meantime, it is still safe and tolerable even in dark skin types where ND : YAG and IPL show less side effects.

The higher rate of side effects and associated pain in darker skin type that make its use less desirable can be avoided by careful adjustment of the laser parameters.

More frequent sessions are needed by ND : YAG and IPL for long term hair reduction with acceptable efficacy.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Ghali, Nahla R.. 2006. Evaluation of Alexandrite laser, nd : yag laser and intense pulsed light for axillary hair removal ; a prospective randomized controlled trial. Tanta Medical Sciences Journal،Vol. 1, no. 1, pp.26-36.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-277846

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Ghali, Nahla R.. Evaluation of Alexandrite laser, nd : yag laser and intense pulsed light for axillary hair removal ; a prospective randomized controlled trial. Tanta Medical Sciences Journal Vol. 1, no. 1 (Mar. 2006), pp.26-36.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-277846

American Medical Association (AMA)

Ghali, Nahla R.. Evaluation of Alexandrite laser, nd : yag laser and intense pulsed light for axillary hair removal ; a prospective randomized controlled trial. Tanta Medical Sciences Journal. 2006. Vol. 1, no. 1, pp.26-36.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-277846

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references : p. 35-36

Record ID

BIM-277846