The research was published on October 3, 2019, and was conducted with the participation of Harvard Medical School. Many studies before this one have highlighted the effectiveness and safety of laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is based on “selective photothermolysis” which was first introduced as a concept by Anderson and Parrish. Which works …
The research was published on October 3, 2019, and was conducted with the participation of Harvard Medical School.
Many studies before this one have shown the effectiveness and safety of laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is based on the "selective photothermolysis" concept first introduced by Anderson and Parrish. It works by destroying the hair follicle by targeting its melanin, without causing damage to the skin.
The wavelengths absorbed by melanin are between 600nm and 1100nm. There are already various hair removal lasers, such as diode (800 – 810nm), nd:yag (1094), alexandrite (755nm) etc.
Alexandrite (755nm) is the first choice when targeting the hair follicle, as it is considered the most effective solution, especially for skin with phototypes (I – III).
This specific study was conducted over a period of 8 years in 2 laser hair removal clinics (Innsbruck, Austria and Barcelona, Spain), involving 948 people (902 women and 46 men) with an average age of 35 years (age groups ranged from 24 to 46 years).
All of the people who participated in the study had never had laser hair removal before and their skin phototype was I – IV.
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and individuals taking medications that cause photosensitivity, such as isotretinoin, were excluded from the study.
All subjects were required to avoid tanning and any other radical hair removal method (e.g. waxing, tweezing, etc.). The area was shaved within 48 hours prior to each session.
All subjects were treated with an alexandrite laser and a cryo-6 device to protect the skin. After each session, the treated area was erythematous for approximately 24 hours. It was considered necessary to avoid sun exposure and sunbathing for the next 3 weeks.
The areas of the body where the treatment was applied were the following: face, bikini, armpits, legs, arms, chest. For each case, different settings/parameters were used during the treatment, depending on the physiology of the skin, hair, and the affected area.
The assessment of the results, unlike previous studies, was carried out over a period of more than one year, after the last treatment, with a second reassessment of the results at 8 years.
90% of women who received treatment on their armpits showed a reduction in hair growth by 75 – 95%. Correspondingly, 82% of women in their bikini and 79% of women on their legs showed the same result.
The people who participated in the survey were happy with the result, stating that they saw the best results in the armpits and bikini area. However, the biggest discrepancy in terms of customer satisfaction. Was observed for the facial area. This happened for 2 reasons, firstly because the treatment was not applied to the face where there is fluff and secondly, any hair that may be left is more visible compared to other parts of the body.
The conclusions of the research state that alexandrite laser hair removal is both a safe and extremely effective hair removal method, with significant and PERMANENT results.
According to the researchers, it is very important during the first informational visit of a client, to present them with the true expectations they should have for the result. Laser hair removal has permanent results to a degree of more than 75%. But it is likely that it will not be eliminated to a percentage of 100% in all areas under treatment.
*The full research data can be found at PubMed (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health)
Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Laser Hair Removal With the Long-Pulsed 755 nm Wavelength Laser: A Two-Center Study With 948 Patients.
Russe E1,2, Purschke M3, Herold M1, Sakamoto FH3, Wechselberger G2, Russe-Wilflingseder K1.
Center for Plastic Surgery and Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, Plastische Chirurgie und Laserzentrum Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital of the Barmherzige Brüder. Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
The entire content of this document is the intellectual property of its authors and is protected by national and international Intellectual Property laws.
