Efficacy and safety of a 0.65 millisecond pulsed portable ND:YAG laser for hair removal.
OBJECTIVE
Based upon the thermal relaxation time of the hair follicle (10-50 ms), most lasers and light devices use relatively long pulse widths for hair removal. This study was conducted to evaluate a shorter pulsed, 0.65 ms Nd:YAG laser for hair removal.


METHODS
One half of each axilla of six female participants was treated and the other half was monitored as a control. The treatment sites were treated with a fluence of either 21 J/cm(2) or 36 J/cm(2) using an Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm and a pulse duration of 0.65 ms. A manual hair count was done before treatment and at each follow-up visit.


RESULTS
Four months after four monthly treatments, the hair reduction was graded as 5 (75-100% reduction) on the high fluence side and 4 on the low fluence side (50-75% reduction) by individuals and investigators. The average hair count 4 months after four treatments in the sites treated with a high fluence went from 114 to 28 (76% reduction) and in the low fluence areas from 135 to 38 (72% reduction).


CONCLUSIONS
This well-controlled study shows that a 0.65 ms Nd:YAG laser is effective and safe for hair removal.
Khatri
Khalil A
KA
Skin & Laser Surgery Center of New England, MA and Nashua, NH, USA. skinlaser@aol.com
Lee
Robert A
RA
Goldberg
Lynne J
LJ
Khatri
Beejul
B
Garcia
Veronica
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome