Rogers, 1999  Title: Hair removal using topical suspension-assisted
Q-switched Nd:YAG and long-pulsed alexandrite lasers: A comparative
study.
Authors: Rogers CJ, Glaser DA, Siegfried EC,
Walsh PM
Journal: Dermatol Surg 1999 Nov;25(11):844-4;
discussion 848-50
PMID: 10594595
Affiliated institution: Saint Louis University,
MO 63104, USA.
Cited in:
BACKGROUND: The use of lasers for removal of unwanted hair has
been shown to be effective in temporarily controlling hair growth.
Several lasers are currently utilized for this purpose. OBJECTIVE:
This study evaluates the short-term effectiveness and discomfort
levels of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser and the topical suspension-assisted
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in a side-by-side comparison. METHODS:
Fifteen subjects were treated in the bilateral hair-bearing axilla,
using one treatment with the alexandrite laser for the right and
two treatments with the topical suspension-assisted Nd:YAG laser
for the left. Reduction in hair regrowth was measured at 2 and
3 months following the first treatment by comparing the terminal
hair count to the baseline values. Patients rated their pain on
a scale of 0-10 immediately following the first treatment at each
site. RESULTS: The mean percentage reduction in hair regrowth
2 months following alexandrite laser treatment was 55% and 73%
for the Nd:YAG laser-treated regions. After 3 months, alexandrite
laser-treated patients showed a reduction of 19%, while Nd:YAG
laser-treated patients showed a 27% reduction. Patients reported
average pain values of 8 and 4 for the long-pulsed alexandrite
and Nd:YAG laser sites, respectively. All differences were significant.
CONCLUSION: While the design of this study makes it difficult
to compare the relative effectiveness of the lasers, both systems
evaluated were shown to delay hair growth and provide patients
with a satisfactory treatment.
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