Effect of Different Pulse Durations on the Efficacy of Long-Pulsed Alexandrite-Assisted Hair Removal; A Split-Face Comparison Study Pulse Duration and Hair Removal Efficacy
Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences,
Vol. 12 (2021),
13 February 2021
,
Page e21
Abstract
Introduction: Laser-assisted hair removal is widely used by a large number of patients complaining of unwanted hair. However, little is known about the effect of varying the pulse duration on clinical results and side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hair removal using an alexandrite laser with different pulse durations.
Methods: Fifty female patients with facial hirsutism were subjected to a hair removal procedure with an alexandrite laser, using 3 and 10 milliseconds pulse durations on each side of the face every 5 weeks for three sessions. Photographs were taken and hair counts were checked before the treatment and one month postoperatively.
Results: one month after the laser treatment, the clearance rate was 56% with both 3 and 10 milliseconds pulse durations. There was not any significant difference in clinical efficacy or the side effect profile.
Conclusion: Using a 755 nm alexandrite laser for hair removal is an effective and safe method for delaying hair regrowth and this delay is not markedly different by increasing the pulse duration from
3 to 10 milliseconds.
- Pulse duration; Alexandrite laser; Hair removal, Pulse width
How to Cite
References
Nanni CA, Alster TS. A practical review of laser-assisted hair removal using the Q-switched Nd:YAG, long-pulsed ruby, and long-pulsed alexandrite lasers. Dermatol Surg. 1998 Dec;24(12):1399-405; discussion 1405. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.1998.tb00022.x. PMID: 9865211.
Tulpule MS, Bhide DS, Bharatia P, Rathod NU. 810 nm diode laser for hair reduction with Chill-tip technology: prospective observational analysis of 55 patients of Fitzpatrick skin types III, IV,V. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2020 Feb 17; 22(2):65-69. DOI: 10.1080/14764172.2020.1726961
Załęska I, Atta-Motte M. Aspects of diode laser (805 nm) hair removal safety in a mixed-race group of patients. J Lasers Med Sci. 2019; 10(2):146-153. doi:10.15171/jlms.2019.23.
Pai GS, Bhat PS, Mallya H, Gold M. Safety and efficacy of low-fluence, high-repetition rate versus high-fluence, low-repetition rate 810-nm diode laser for permanent hair removal--a split-face comparison study. J Cosmet LaserTher. 2011 Aug;13(4):134-7. doi: 10.3109/14764172.2011.594057.
Nanni CA, Alster TS. Long-pulsed alexandrite laser-assisted hair removal at 5, 10, and 20 millisecond pulse durations. Lasers Surg Med. 1999;24(5):332-7. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1999)24:5<332::aid-lsm3>3.0.co;2-2.
Ort RJ, Anderson RR. Optical hair removal. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 1999 Jun;18(2):149-58. doi: 10.1016/s1085-5629(99)80039-x.
Bäumler W, Scherer K, Abels C, Neff S, Landthaler M, Szeimies RM. The effect of different spot sizes on the efficacy of hair removal using a long-pulsed diode laser. Dermatol Surg. 2002 Feb;28(2):118-21. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2002.01117.x.
Goldberg DJ, Silapunt S. Histologic evaluation of a millisecond Nd:YAG laser for hair removal. Lasers Surg Med. 2001; 28(2):159-61. doi: 10.1002/lsm.1033. PMID: 11241524.
Jo SJ, Kim JY, Ban J, Lee Y, Kwon O, Koh W. Efficacy and Safety of Hair Removal with a Long-Pulsed Diode Laser Depending on the Spot Size: A Randomized, Evaluators-Blinded, Left-Right Study. Ann Dermatol. 2015 Oct; 27(5):517-22. doi: 10.5021/ad.2015.27.5.517.
Ross EV, Ladin Z, Kreindel M, Dierickx C. Theoretical considerations in laser hair removal. Dermatol Clin. 1999 Apr;17(2):333-55, viii. doi: 10.1016/s0733-8635(05)70091-7.
Lyle S, Christofidou-Solomidou M, Liu Y, Elder DE, Albelda S, Cotsarelis G. The C8/144B monoclonal antibody recognizes cytokeratin 15 and defines the location of human hair follicle stem cells. J Cell Sci. 1998 Nov; 111 (Pt 21):3179-88.
Nanni CA, Alster TS. Optimizing treatment parameters for hair removal using a topical carbon-based solution and 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium:YAG laser energy. Arch Dermatol. 1997 Dec;133(12):1546-9.
Bhat YJ, Bashir S, Nabi N, Hassan I. Laser treatment in hirsutism: an update. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2020;10(2):e2020048. doi: https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1002a48
Finkel B, Eliezri YD, Waldman A, Slatkine M. Pulsed alexandrite laser technology for noninvasive hair removal. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1997;15(5):225-9. doi: 10.1089/clm.1997.15.225. PMID: 9612175.
Raulin C, Greve B. Temporary hair loss using the long-pulsed alexandrite laser at 20 milliseconds. Eur J Dermatol. 2000 Mar;10(2):103-6.
Ataie-Fashtami L, Shirkavand A, Sarkar S, Alinaghizadeh M, Hejazi M, Fateh M, Esmaeeli Djavid G, Zand N, Mohammadreza H. Simulation of heat distribution and thermal damage patterns of diode hair-removal lasers: an applicable method for optimizing treatment parameters. Photomed Laser Surg. 2011 Jul; 29(7):509-15. doi: 10.1089/pho.2010.2895.
Boss WK Jr, Usal H, Thompson RC, Fiorillo MA. A comparison of the long-pulse and short-pulse Alexandrite laser hair removal systems. Ann Plast Surg. 1999 Apr; 42(4):381-4. doi: 10.1097/00000637-199904000-00006.
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. Dermatol Surg. 1999 Jun;25(6):425-30. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08118.x.
Nanni CA, Alster TS. Laser-assisted hair removal: side effects of Q-switched Nd:YAG, long-pulsed ruby, and alexandrite lasers. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Aug; 41(2 Pt 1):165-71. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(99)70043-5.
McGill DJ, Hutchison C, McKenzie E, McSherry E, Mackay IR. Laser hair removal in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2007;60(4):426-31. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2006.11.006.
McGill DJ, Hutchison C, McKenzie E, McSherry E, Mackay IR. A randomised, split-face comparison of facial hair removal with the alexandrite laser and intense pulsed light system. Lasers Surg Med. 2007 Dec;39(10):767-72. doi: 10.1002/lsm.20584.
References:
Nanni CA, Alster TS. A practical review of laser-assisted hair removal using the Q-switched Nd:YAG, long-pulsed ruby, and long-pulsed alexandrite lasers. Dermatol Surg. 1998 Dec;24(12):1399-405; discussion 1405. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.1998.tb00022.x. PMID: 9865211.
Tulpule MS, Bhide DS, Bharatia P, Rathod NU. 810 nm diode laser for hair reduction with Chill-tip technology: prospective observational analysis of 55 patients of Fitzpatrick skin types III, IV,V. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2020 Feb 17; 22(2):65-69. DOI: 10.1080/14764172.2020.1726961
Załęska I, Atta-Motte M. Aspects of diode laser (805 nm) hair removal safety in a mixed-race group of patients. J Lasers Med Sci. 2019; 10(2):146-153. doi:10.15171/jlms.2019.23.
Pai GS, Bhat PS, Mallya H, Gold M. Safety and efficacy of low-fluence, high-repetition rate versus high-fluence, low-repetition rate 810-nm diode laser for permanent hair removal--a split-face comparison study. J Cosmet LaserTher. 2011 Aug;13(4):134-7. doi: 10.3109/14764172.2011.594057.
Nanni CA, Alster TS. Long-pulsed alexandrite laser-assisted hair removal at 5, 10, and 20 millisecond pulse durations. Lasers Surg Med. 1999;24(5):332-7. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1999)24:5<332::aid-lsm3>3.0.co;2-2.
Ort RJ, Anderson RR. Optical hair removal. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 1999 Jun;18(2):149-58. doi: 10.1016/s1085-5629(99)80039-x.
Bäumler W, Scherer K, Abels C, Neff S, Landthaler M, Szeimies RM. The effect of different spot sizes on the efficacy of hair removal using a long-pulsed diode laser. Dermatol Surg. 2002 Feb;28(2):118-21. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2002.01117.x.
Goldberg DJ, Silapunt S. Histologic evaluation of a millisecond Nd:YAG laser for hair removal. Lasers Surg Med. 2001; 28(2):159-61. doi: 10.1002/lsm.1033. PMID: 11241524.
Jo SJ, Kim JY, Ban J, Lee Y, Kwon O, Koh W. Efficacy and Safety of Hair Removal with a Long-Pulsed Diode Laser Depending on the Spot Size: A Randomized, Evaluators-Blinded, Left-Right Study. Ann Dermatol. 2015 Oct; 27(5):517-22. doi: 10.5021/ad.2015.27.5.517.
Ross EV, Ladin Z, Kreindel M, Dierickx C. Theoretical considerations in laser hair removal. Dermatol Clin. 1999 Apr;17(2):333-55, viii. doi: 10.1016/s0733-8635(05)70091-7.
Lyle S, Christofidou-Solomidou M, Liu Y, Elder DE, Albelda S, Cotsarelis G. The C8/144B monoclonal antibody recognizes cytokeratin 15 and defines the location of human hair follicle stem cells. J Cell Sci. 1998 Nov; 111 (Pt 21):3179-88.
Nanni CA, Alster TS. Optimizing treatment parameters for hair removal using a topical carbon-based solution and 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium:YAG laser energy. Arch Dermatol. 1997 Dec;133(12):1546-9.
Bhat YJ, Bashir S, Nabi N, Hassan I. Laser treatment in hirsutism: an update. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2020;10(2):e2020048. doi: https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1002a48
Finkel B, Eliezri YD, Waldman A, Slatkine M. Pulsed alexandrite laser technology for noninvasive hair removal. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1997;15(5):225-9. doi: 10.1089/clm.1997.15.225. PMID: 9612175.
Raulin C, Greve B. Temporary hair loss using the long-pulsed alexandrite laser at 20 milliseconds. Eur J Dermatol. 2000 Mar;10(2):103-6.
Ataie-Fashtami L, Shirkavand A, Sarkar S, Alinaghizadeh M, Hejazi M, Fateh M, Esmaeeli Djavid G, Zand N, Mohammadreza H. Simulation of heat distribution and thermal damage patterns of diode hair-removal lasers: an applicable method for optimizing treatment parameters. Photomed Laser Surg. 2011 Jul; 29(7):509-15. doi: 10.1089/pho.2010.2895.
Boss WK Jr, Usal H, Thompson RC, Fiorillo MA. A comparison of the long-pulse and short-pulse Alexandrite laser hair removal systems. Ann Plast Surg. 1999 Apr; 42(4):381-4. doi: 10.1097/00000637-199904000-00006.
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. Dermatol Surg. 1999 Jun;25(6):425-30. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08118.x.
Nanni CA, Alster TS. Laser-assisted hair removal: side effects of Q-switched Nd:YAG, long-pulsed ruby, and alexandrite lasers. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Aug; 41(2 Pt 1):165-71. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(99)70043-5.
McGill DJ, Hutchison C, McKenzie E, McSherry E, Mackay IR. Laser hair removal in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2007;60(4):426-31. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2006.11.006.
McGill DJ, Hutchison C, McKenzie E, McSherry E, Mackay IR. A randomised, split-face comparison of facial hair removal with the alexandrite laser and intense pulsed light system. Lasers Surg Med. 2007 Dec;39(10):767-72. doi: 10.1002/lsm.20584.
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