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Hair Removal in Hirsute Women with Normal Testosterone Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Long-Pulsed Diode Laser versus Intense Pulsed Light.

Author(s): Haak CS, Nymann P, Pedersen AT, Clausen HV, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Rasmussen AK, Main K, Haedersdal M

Affiliation(s): Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Publication date & source: 2010-08-20, Br J Dermatol., [Epub ahead of print]

ABSTRACT Background: Hirsutism is a common disorder in women of reproductive age and androgen disturbances may aggravate the condition. Limited evidence exists regarding hair removal efficacy in this specific population and no data are available for patients with verified normal testosterone levels. Objectives: To compare efficacy and safety of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) versus long-pulsed diode laser (LPDL) in a well-defined group of hirsute women with normal testosterone levels. Patients/Methods: Thirty-one hirsute women received six allocated split-face treatments with IPL (Palomar Starlux IPL system, 525-1200 nm) and LPDL (Asclepion MeDioStar XT diode laser, 810 nm). Testosterone levels were measured three times during the study period. Patients with intrinsically normal or medically normalized testosterone levels throughout the study were included in efficacy assessments (n=23). Endpoints were reduction in hair counts assessed by blinded photo-evaluations at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months after final treatment, patient-evaluated reduction in hairiness, patient satisfaction, treatment-related pain, and adverse effects. Results: IPL and LPDL reduced hair counts significantly, median reductions being 77%, 53%, 40% for IPL and 68%, 60%, 34% for LDPL (1, 3 and 6 months). At 6 months follow-up, there was no significant difference between treatments in terms of hair reductions (P=0.427), patient assessment of hairiness (P=0.250) and patient satisfaction (p=0.125). Pain scores were consistently higher for IPL (median 6 (4-7)) than LPDL (3 (2-5)) (P<0.001). Conclusions: Hirsute women with normal or medically normalized testosterone levels responded equally efficient to IPL and LPDL treatments of facial hairiness, but the efficacy declined over 6 months.

Page last updated: 2010-10-05

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