Clinical study to determine the safety and efficacy of a low-energy, pulsed light device for home use hair removal

• Published in: Lasers in surgery and medicine 2010-04, Vol.42 (4), p.287-291
• Main Authors: Elm, Courtney M.L., Wallander, Irmina D., Walgrave, Susan E., Zelickson, Brian D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; at home hair removal; Consumers; Erythema; Female; Hair; Hair Removal - instrumentation; Humans; laser hair removal; Lasers; Light effects; Low-Level Light Therapy - instrumentation; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; selective photo-thermolysis; Self Care - instrumentation; Side effects; Skin; Skin Pigmentation; Statistics, Nonparametric; Vision; xenon
• ISSN: 0196-8092; 1096-9101; 1096-9101
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.20917

Background and Objectives The principle of selective photo‐thermolysis has been studied extensively for hair removal applications in a medical setting. A new, portable, hand‐held device featuring two filtered Xenon lamps that utilizes pulsed light in low optical fluencies for hair removal has been developed for consumer use. The purpose of this clinical study was to determine the efficacy and safety of this low‐energy, pulsed‐intense light device intended for home use hair removal. Study Design/ Materials and Methods The treatment group consisted of 10 adults with skin types I–IV who possessed unwanted dark hair in the non‐facial region. The subjects received between 4 and 6 treatments on a bi‐weekly basis with the device by a trained member of the clinical staff. The clinical responses were evaluated by performing manual hair counts using magnified vision and photographs which were obtained prior to treatment and at each subsequent visit. Results Mean hair reduction was 36% 4 weeks after the final treatment and 10% 12 weeks after the final treatment. This resulted in a mean hair count reduction of 23% over the two follow‐up appointments. There was no definitive correlation between customer satisfaction and hair count reduction. Adverse reactions were limited to transient, localized, post‐treatment erythema. No complications were encountered. Conclusions This low‐energy, pulsed‐light device is a quick, safe, and relatively effective at‐home hair reduction treatment option in patients with various skin phototypes. Lasers Surg. Med. 42:287–291, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.