Hair induction after laser-assisted hair removal and its treatment.
BACKGROUND
Laser hair removal is a relatively safe procedure with limited side effects. Hair induction has been previously scarcely reported.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to report the incidence of this strange side effect in a large number of patients treated for hair removal and to follow its course and treatment.


METHODS
We conducted retrospective analysis of the files of all patients who underwent laser hair removal during the time period from May 1998 until May 2005 in a private institution in Athens, Greece.


RESULTS
Hair induction occurs predominantly on the face and neck of female patients of Mediterranean ancestry with darker skin types. The percentage is quite low (4.5%). Laser treatment of the induced hair reduces the problem.


CONCLUSIONS
No control groups could be obtained in this study. Furthermore, the natural course of hair induction could not be studied because it was always treated or patients were lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Hair induction is a rare side effect of laser hair removal occurring in selected populations and body areas; however, it responds well to laser treatments.
Kontoes
Paraskevas
P
LaserLight Clinic, Athens, Greece. info@kontoes.gr
Vlachos
Spiros
S
Konstantinos
Marayiannis
M
Anastasia
Loupatatzi
L
Myrto
Savva
S
D000005:Abdomen; D001415:Back; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development*; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012880:Skin Pigmentation