Laser-Assisted Hair Removal in Asian Skin: Efficacy, Complications, and the Effect of Single Versus Multiple Treatments

Laser-Assisted Hair Removal in Asian Skin: Efficacy, Complications, and the Effect of Single Versus Multiple Treatments
March 2003
To cite this article: Mussarat Hussain MD, Niwat Polnikorn MD, David J. Goldberg MD (2003)
Laser-Assisted Hair Removal in Asian Skin: Efficacy, Complications, and the Effect of Single Versus Multiple Treatments
Dermatologic Surgery 29 (3), 249Ò254.
doi:10.1046/j.1524-4725.2003.29059.x
Blackwell Synergy

Mussarat Hussain, MD*
*Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey, Hackensack, New Jersey;Department of Dermatology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; and , Niwat Polnikorn, MDDepartment of Dermatology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; and , and David J. Goldberg, MD*
*Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey, Hackensack, New Jersey;Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: David J. Goldberg, MD, Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York/New Jersey, 20 Prospect Avenue, Suite 702, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
MUSSARAT HUSSAIN, MD, NIWAT POLNIKORN, MD, AND DAVID J. GOLDBERG, MD HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS.

Abstract
Background. Alexandrite laser hair removal can be quite successful in lighter skin types. Effective hair removal in Asians can be difficult, and multiple treatments are usually required for effective treatment.

Objective. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of alexandrite laser hair removal in Asian skin, to determine the benefit of multiple treatments, and to evaluate the value of test patches before laser treatment.

Methods. One hundred forty-four Asian subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types III to V were treated with a cooled 40-ms alexandrite laser with fluences of 16 to 24 J/cm2. Initially, all treated subjects underwent test patch application. After test patch application, 35 subjects with 66 anatomic sites received three treatments. Thirty-five subjects with 66 anatomic sites received two treatments, and 74 subjects with 124 anatomic received a single treatment. All subjects were followed for 9 months after their final treatment.

Results. In subjects that were treated three times, a 55% hair reduction was noted at 9 months after the third treatment. In subjects treated two times, a 44% hair reduction was noted at 9 months after the second treatment. In subjects treated only one time, a 32% hair reduction was noted at 9 months after the single treatment. No subjects had scarring or long-term pigmentary changes. There appeared to be no correlation between test patch acute complications and those seen after actual treatments.

Conclusion. Although Asian skin can be effectively treated with a cooled, long-pulsed alexandrite laser, complications do occur. Laser hair removal efficacy was increased with multiple treatments. There does not appear to be an exact correlation in Asian skin between complications occurring after test patch treatment and those seen with subsequent treatments.

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