Alexandrite laser medical data Alexandrite lasers for hair removal were cleared by FDA to market
in the U.S. in 1997. Despite its current popularity, there's not
a lot of data on alexandrites for hair removal. [1] Arguably the
best overview is Ash. [2]
A short-term study of 130 female subjects
had an average of 8 facial treatments over 18 months. Researchers
observed an average 75% reduction for dark hair at 3 months
and 10% for light hair. [3]A similar study noted 81% to 95% reduction at
3 months after 3 to 5 treatments, [4] as did a smaller study which observed 86% reduction
at 3 months after a single treatment. [5] One
comparative study observed 74% reduction at 3 months
after 4 treatments, which was about twice the clearance they observed
with electrolysis. [6] Another with
short term follow-up observed 19% reduction at 3 months,
which compared favorably to Nd:YAG. [7]
A mid-range study observed 25-47%
reduction at 4 to 6 months after 1 or 2 treatments in
various areas. [8] A similar study
found 66% reduction at 1 month, 27% reduction at 3 months, and
4% reduction at 6 months. [9]
One study of treatment at the bikini found an average of 43%
reduction at 6 months plus “one growth cycle”
after a single treatment, with 60% of sites having greater than
30%. [10] Another study with five bikini treatments observed 78%
reduction at 12 months after final treatment. [11] One
study comparing long and short pulsewidths observed about 33%
reduction at 6 months for both pulsewidths. [12] This
was also observed in a study observing 60% to 80% reduction
at 6 months after 3 treatments. [13] Damage to
follicles was confirmed in one thorough histological analysis.
[14]
In 150 dark-skinned patients (skin type
IV-VI) treated with alexandrite side effects occurred
in about 2% of cases. [15] This matches results in a large-scale study of
lighter skin types. [16] Preheating or precooling the skin
before treatment may help reduce side effects. [17, 18] Lower
fluences have been observed to cause higher rates of double hairs
as regrowth. [19]
References
- Please see summary below.
- Ash K, Lord J, Newman J, McDaniel DH. Hair removal using a long-pulsed alexandrite
laser. Dermatologic Clinics. 1999 Apr;17(2):387-99, ix.
- Raulin C, Greve B. Temporary hair loss using the long-pulsed
alexandrite laser at 20 milliseconds. European Journal of
Dermatology. 2000 Mar;10(2):103-6.
- Finkel B, Eliezri YD, Waldman A, Slatkine M. Pulsed alexandrite laser technology for
noninvasive hair removal. Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine
and Surgery. 1997;15(5):225-9.
- Connolly CS, Paolini L. Study reveals successful removal of
unwanted hair with LPIR laser. Cosmetic Dermatology 1997;10:38-40.
- Gorgu M, Aslan G, Akoz T, Erdogan B. Comparison of alexandrite laser and electrolysis
for hair removal. Dermatologic Surgery. 2000 Jan;26(1):37-41.
- Rogers CJ, Glaser DA, Siegfried EC, Walsh PM. Hair removal using topical suspension-assisted
Q-switched Nd:YAG and long-pulsed alexandrite lasers: A comparative
study. Dermatologic Surgery. 1999 Nov;25(11):844-4; discussion
848-50.
- McDaniel DH, Lord J, Ash K, Newman J, Zukowski M. Laser hair removal: a review and report
on the use of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser for hair reduction
of the upper lip, leg, back, and bikini region. Dermatologic
Surgery. 1999 Jun;25(6):425-30.
- Nanni CA, Alster TS. Long-pulsed alexandrite laser-assisted
hair removal at 5, 10, and 20 millisecond pulse durations.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 1999;24(5):332-7.
- Laughlin SA, Dudley DK. Long-term Hair removal using a 3-millesecond
alexandrite laser. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.
2000 Apr;4(2):83-88.
- Lloyd JR, Mirkov M. Long-term evaluation of the long-pulsed
alexandrite laser for the removal of bikini hair at shortened
treatment intervals. Dermatologic Surgery. 2000 Jul;26(7):633-7.
- Goldberg DJ, Ahkami R. Evaluation comparing multiple treatments
with a 2-msec and 10-msec alexandrite laser for hair removal.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 1999;25(3):223-8.
- Boss WK Jr, Usal H, Thompson RC, Fiorillo MA. A comparison of the long-pulse and short-pulse
Alexandrite laser hair removal systems. Annals of Plastic
Surgery. 1999 Apr;42(4):381-4.
- Ono I, Tateshita T. Histopathological changes in the hair
follicle after irradiation of long-pulse alexandrite laser equipped
with a cooling device. European Journal of Dermatology.
2000 Jul-Aug;10(5):373-8.
- Garcia C, Alamoudi H, Nakib M, Zimmo S. Alexandrite laser hair removal is safe
for Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI. Dermatologic Surgery.
2000 Feb;26(2):130-4.
- Nanni CA, Alster TS. Laser-assisted hair removal: side effects
of Q-switched Nd:YAG, long-pulsed ruby, and alexandrite lasers.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 1999 Aug;41(2
Pt 1):165-71.
- Topping A, Gault D, Grobbelaar A, Green C, Sanders R, Sibbons
P, Linge C. Successful reduction in skin damage resulting
from exposure to the normal-mode ruby laser in an animal model.
British Journal of Plastic Surgery 2001 Mar;54(2):144-150.
- Raulin C, Greve B, Hammes S. Cold air in laser therapy: first experiences
with a new cooling system. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
2000;27(5):404-10.
- Ye JN, Prasad A, Trivedi P, Knapp DP, Chu P, Edelstein LM.
Pili bigeminy induced by low fluence therapy
with hair removal alexandrite and ruby lasers. Dermatologic
Surgery 1999 Dec;25(12):969.
Summary of data with links to abstracts
 = recommended only for in-depth researchers
= may be worth ordering
= strongly recommended
Human clinical studies
 Connolly (1997): An early article showing 20 subjects had 86% reduction
three months after a single treatment.
Finkel (1997): Finkel took before and after photographs
of 126 fair- to dark-haired subjects who had 3 to 5 treatments
on various areas. Observers of the photos noted 81% to 95% reduction
3 months after last treatment.
Fuchs (1997): an clinical early report of success.
Boss (1999): 18 subjects in full skin type range
had treatment in various areas to compare long pulse and short
pulse. Six months after 3 treatments, they report 60% to 80%
reduction.
McDaniel (1999): 22 ideal subjects (light skin, dark
hair) had 25-47% reduction at 4 to 6 months after 1 or 2 treatments
in various areas.
Nanni (1999): 36 subjects had one treatment. Hair counts were
reduced by 66% at 1 month, 27% at 3 months, and 4% at 6 months.
Goldberg (1999): 14 subjects had 3 treatments on paired sites.
6 months after treatment average reduction was about 34%.
Rogers (1999): 15 subjects had 1 alexandrite treatment on one
armpit. 3 months after treatment average reduction was 19%.
Gorgu (2000): 12 subjects had one armpit treated with
electrolysis and the other with alexandrite laser. 14 weeks
after final treatment, they reported electrolysis had 35% clearance
and laser had 74% clearance.
Raulin (2000): 130 female subjects had an average of 8 facial
treatments over 18 months. 13 weeks after final treatment, average
clearance was 75% for dark hair and 10% for light hair.
Ono (2000): A histopathological study comparing
hairs before and after treatment.
Lloyd (2000): 11 subjects had 5 bikini treatments
over 15 weeks. 1 year after final treatment, average clearance
was 78%
Laughlin (2000): Photos of 25 various body sites getting
one treatment were observed to have an average 43% reduction
in terminal hairs after "one growth cycle." Counts
remained stable 6 months after the growth cycle.
Side effects
Ye (1999): Reports that low-fluence alexandrite treatment
can cause more than one hair to grow from the same follicle
(pili bigemini).
Garcia (2000): In 150 dark-skinned patients (skin type IV-VI)
treated with alexandrite, about 2% had side effects.
Reviews/overviews
Narukar (1998): Compares long-pulse on various skin types (no
abstract).
Ash (1999): A fairly good overview of available
data at the time of writing.
Nanni (1998): A practical review of lasers widely available
at the time (Nd:YAG, ruby, alexandrite).
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