Hair removal with neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser and pneumatic skin flattening in Asians.
BACKGROUND
Based on the "gate theory" of pain transmission, pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) may reduce pain during laser hair removal.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the pain, efficacy, and adverse effects after laser hair reduction using PSF with that using a dynamic cooling device (DCD) in Asians.


METHODS
Twelve participants (skin types III-IV) received laser hair removal with a PSF device on the right axilla and DCD on the other side. Pain was assessed based on a visual analogue scale. Hair regrowth was rated based on photographs taken before treatment and in follow-up visits at 8 and 36 weeks.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven percent of participants felt less pain in the PSF side than the DCD side right after laser treatment. On a scale of 1 to 10, the immediate mean pain score was 5.7±2.0 for the PSF side and 6.5±1.5 for the DCD side (p=.09). Seventy-five percent of the participants preferred treatments with PSF. Efficacy of hair reduction was similar on both sides 8 and 36 weeks after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
PSF decreases pain sensation during laser hair removal while allowing higher energy densities in Asian patients. The equal efficacy and complication rate of PSF indicates that it is a feasible alternative to DCD at lower cost.
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Chi K
CK
Yeung
Samantha Y
SY
Shek
Henry H L
HH
Chan
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000528:radiation effects; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D055815:Young Adult