title: The efficacy of laser-assisted hair removal in the treatment of acne keloidalis nuchae; a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laser-assisted hair removal causes miniaturization of hair shafts which are the principal contributors to inflammation in acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of hair reduction by long pulsed Nd-YAG laser as a therapeutic modality for AKN.
  
  
  METHODS
  This interventional pilot trial included 16 patients with AKN who received 5 sessions of long pulsed Nd-YAG laser. Lesions were objectively and subjectively assessed at the third and fifth laser sessions, and 1 year after. Global response to treatment was rated using a quartile grading scale regarding the percentage improvement in the count of papules and the size of the plaques. Biopsies were taken before and 2 weeks after the fifth session to evaluate the pathological changes associated with improvement of the treated lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients showed a significant improvement. The percentage of improvement in the early caseswas significantly higher when compared to late cases.Two weeks after the fifth session, all biopsies showed a significant decrease in the inflammatory infiltrate except one case. Sclerosis was markedly decreased. Complete absence of hair follicles and adenexawas observed, apart from in 2 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser hair depilation can significantly improve this disfiguring chronic disorder. Starting treatment as early as possible achieves the best results and can stop the disease process if followed by maintenance sessions.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 13th Abrag Othman, Kornish El Maadi, Cairo 11431, Egypt.
authors.forename: Samia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.forename: Rania M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Abdel Hay
authors.forename: Ola M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Abu Zeid
authors.forename: Hala N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Hosni
mesh_terms: D000153:Acne Keloid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004890:Erythema / Q000150:complications; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult