Home hair removal in all skin types with a combined radiofrequency and optical energy source device.
BACKGROUND
Home hair removal devices are available for skin types I to IV. Side effects may limit hair removal in darker-pigmented individuals.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a home hair removal device using combined radiofrequency (RF) and intense pulsed light (IPL) energy for effectiveness and safety with all skin types (I-VI).


METHODS
Two study designs: effectiveness (treating 94 bilateral patient areas weekly seven times, with one side then receiving three additional treatments at 4-week intervals) and safety (37 patient areas treated every 2-4 days for three sessions).


METHODS
Hairs were counted 3 months after treatment for the first design and 2 months after for the second.


RESULTS
In the first study design, 55% hair count reduction was achieved1 month after seven treatments to all sites. The side with no further sessions had 43% hair reduction and the side receiving ongoing treatment had 58% reduction after two further treatments. Side effects were transient and minor. In the second study, with 46% of the patients having skin types V/VI, 2 months after the procedure there was 44% hair reduction. There were no adverse effects reported.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, a home hair removal device has been shown to be effective and safe in all skin types using a low-energy RF-IPL device.
Departments of Dermatology and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
Jerome M
JM
Garden
Brian
B
Zelickson
Michael H
MH
Gold
David
D
Friedman
Tuvia D
TD
Kutscher
Vince
V
Afsahi
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000078702:Radiofrequency Therapy; D012648:Self Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome