title: Efficacy and safety of mascara dyeing as an adjunct to Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser applications for removing thin and white-colored facial and axillary hair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no satisfactory and efficient method for long-term removal of white-colored and thin hair.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomised clinical trial of hirsute patients with excessive white and/or thin hair on the face and/or axilla. In Group I (n: 16), the facial hair on one side of the face was painted with a black eyelash mascara immediately before Nd:YAG laser and the other half was only treated by Nd:YAG. In Group II (n: 20), the axillary hair on one side was painted with the mascara before the Alexandrite laser with the other side being only treated by Alexandrite.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The terminal hair counts on the painted facial and axillary sides were significantly lower than those on the control sides throughout the study except for the first month. The decrease in the terminal hair count was significant from the beginning of treatment to the second and sixth months on the painted and control facial sides and to the first and sixth months on the axillary sides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hair coloring with black eyelash mascara is a simple, efficient and safe adjunct to Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser applications to enhance their clinical efficacy in eliminating white and thin facial or axillary hair.
authors.affiliation: a Istanbul Medipol University Medical Faculty, Dermatology Department , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Üstüner
authors.affiliation: a Istanbul Medipol University Medical Faculty, Dermatology Department , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balevi
authors.affiliation: a Istanbul Medipol University Medical Faculty, Dermatology Department , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özdemir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D003358:Cosmetics; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005145:Face; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics
keywords: Alexandrite laser; Nd:YAG laser; dye; hair removal; lasers