Laser-assisted hair removal for darker skin types.

Before the advent of longer wavelengths, longer pulse durations and more efficient cooling devices, laser-assisted hair removal was best suited for phototypes I-III with dark terminal hairs. Now, laser-assisted hair removal can be performed safely and efficaciously on darker skin types. The long-pulsed diode and Nd:YAG-wavelength-based laser systems are best suited to safely and effectively treat patients with darker skin types.

Laser hair removal: comparison of long-pulsed Nd:YAG, long-pulsed alexandrite, and long-pulsed diode lasers.

Background: Advances in laser technology over the past several years have led to the development of numerous lasers for the treatment of unwanted hair. Laser wavelength is a key factor influencing treatment efficacy and complication rates.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of laser hair removal using three different laser systems.

Comparing 18- versus 12-mm spot size in hair removal using a gentlease 755-nm alexandrite laser.

Background: Laser epilation is based on the principle of selective photothermolysis, absorption of laser energy by the target chromophore melanin. It is claimed that larger spot sizes may be more effective for hair removal at identical fluences.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 18- vs.

Optimizing treatment parameters for hair removal using long-pulsed Nd:YAG-lasers.

Our aim was to determine the most effective treatment parameters for laser-assisted hair removal using long-pulsed Nd:YAG-lasers. 42 volunteers were treated with 1064 nm long-pulsed Nd:YAG-lasers. We used two different laser systems (Lyra XP, Wavelight and Smartepil II Deka-LMS) with various pulse lengths, fluences, and spot sizes.

Hair reduction: 48 months of experience with 800nm diode laser.

Background: The goal of hair removal methods has always been permanent or at least long-term epilation. Laser technology and the axiom of selective photothermolysis allowed a new approach to this subject.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the long-term efficacy of a solid state, 800nm pulsed near infrared diode laser system for the reduction of pigmented hair, and extending habitual hair plucking intervals.

Long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser-assisted hair removal in all skin types.

Background: Although there are several different laser systems available for the reduction of unwanted hair, no single system has been shown to be superior in providing safe and effective hair removal in every skin type. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a high-energy, long-pulsed, 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser with a contact cooling device for hair removal in skin phototypes I-VI.

Methods: Thirty-six adult patients (skin phototypes I-VI) with dark terminal facial or nonfacial hair were treated with a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 10-mm spot size, fluence of 30 to 60 J/cm2).

[New and established methods in therapy of hair diseases].

Recently rational drug therapy and potent technologies have been introduced for the treatment of the most frequent hair problems, i.e. finasteride in the treatment of male pattern hair loss, and laser-assisted hair removal systems for hypertrichosis and hirsutism.

Laser hair removal.

Laser-assisted hair removal has rapidly emerged as a noninvasive technique for long-term reduction in unwanted hair. This article reviews the pertinent aspects of hair follicle biology, the theoretical aspects of the physics and mechanisms of laser epilation, the different types of lasers available for hair removal, and the practical clinical aspects of laser hair removal.

Long-lasting hypopigmentation induced by long-pulsed alexandrite laser photo-epilation.

Background: Long-lasting hypopigmentation induced by laser hair removal systems has been reported. OBJECTIVE. : To evaluate clinical aspects of a female Caucasian that developed long-lasting hypopigmentation in the arms and forearms after photodepilation with a long-pulsed alexandrite laser.

Laser-assisted hair removal in Asian skin: efficacy, complications, and the effect of single versus multiple treatments.

Background: Alexandrite laser hair removal can be quite successful in lighter skin types. Effective hair removal in Asians can be difficult, and multiple treatments are usually required for effective treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of alexandrite laser hair removal in Asian skin, to determine the benefit of multiple treatments, and to evaluate the value of test patches before laser treatment.

Laser-assisted hair removal for darkly pigmented skin.

Effective hair removal is now available even for the darkest-skinned patients, including Fitzpatrick skin type VI. With the long-pulse YAG laser, a deeply penetrating wavelength enables energy to reach the hair bulbs, adequate power and pulse duration heat and destroy the hair follicle, and low melanin absorption ensures less epidermal damage. (Aesthetic Surg J 2003;21:143-144.

Measurements of laser light attenuation following cryogen spray cooling spurt termination.

Background And Objectives: Cryogen spray cooling (CSC) is used to minimize the risk of epidermal damage during laser dermatological surgery. However, while CSC can protect the epidermis from non-specific thermal damage, the cryogen film on the skin surface may pose a potential problem of laser light attenuation due to optical scattering.

Study Design/materials And Methods: This study is focused on measuring the light transmittance changes that occur following cryogen spurt termination.

Causes and management of hypertrichosis.

Hypertrichosis is the term used for the growth of hair on any part of the body in excess of the amount usually present in persons of the same age, race, and sex, excluding androgen-induced hair growth. In its generalized and circumscribed forms, hypertrichosis may either be an isolated finding, or be associated with other abnormalities. Therefore, accurate classification of hypertrichosis is mandatory.

Laser hair removal: guidelines for management.

Laser-assisted hair removal is the most efficient method of long-term hair removal currently available. Several hair removal systems have been shown to be effective in this setting: ruby laser (694nm), alexandrite laser (755nm), diode laser (800nm), intense pulsed light source (590 to 1200nm) and the neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1064nm), with or without the application of carbon suspension. The parameters used with each laser system vary considerably.

An in vivo study comparing the efficacy and complications of diode laser and long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser in hair removal in Chinese patients.

Background: Lasers with long wavelengths are less well absorbed by melanin and are considered to be particularly suitable for hair removal in dark-skinned patients.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and complications of 800 nm diode and long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG lasers in laser-assisted hair removal in Chinese patients.

Methods: Fifteen women had hair removal treatments (13 axillae and 2 legs) with diode laser on one side and Nd:YAG laser on the other.

Hair removal using the long-pulsed ruby laser in children.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of laser assisted hair removal in children aged 16 and under using the long pulsed ruby laser.

Background Data: Unwanted hair in the pediatric population can be due to congenital hairy nevi and hypertrichosis. Methods of effecting hair removal include shaving, electrolysis, and laser depilation.

Long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser-assisted hair removal in pigmented skin: a clinical and histological evaluation.

Objective: To determine the safety and effectiveness of a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm in effecting long-term hair reduction in patients with darkly pigmented skin.

Design: Nonrandomized before-after clinical and histological trial.

Setting: Private practice, ambulatory care facility.

Dark skin tissue reaction in laser assisted hair removal with a long-pulse ruby laser.

Background: Photo-epilation has become an accepted modality for the removal of unwanted hair. However, adverse effects may occur in darker skin patients. Treatment with the ruby laser is generally advised for skin types I-III.

Comparison of long-pulsed diode and long-pulsed alexandrite lasers for hair removal: a long-term clinical and histologic study.

Background: Unwanted facial and body hair is a common problem, generating a high level of interest for treatment innovations. Advances in laser technology over the past several years has led to the development and distribution of numerous red and infrared lasers and light sources to address this issue. Despite the impressive clinical results that have been reported with the use of individual laser hair removal systems, long-term comparative studies have been scarce.

800 nanometer diode laser hair removal in African American patients: a clinical and histologic study.

Background: Although numerous lasers are available for laser assisted hair removal, their use in individuals with a dark skin type presents many challenges due to competition from epidermal melanin.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate two 800 nm diode lasers (Lightsheer) with 30 msec and 100 msec pulse durations in the treatment of African American patients with skin types V and VI. Histologic studies, efficacy and side effects were examined in an effort to optimize laser hair removal procedures in this patient population.

Histologic evaluation of a millisecond Nd:YAG laser for hair removal.

Background: Hirsutism and hypertrichosis are common problems. Laser-assisted hair removal has recently become a popular method to remove unwanted hair. However, histologic changes of the hair follicle after exposure to laser continue to require further investigation.

Synopsis of laser assisted hair removal systems.

Conventional treatment options for hypertrichosis and hirsutism are tedious and time consuming. Laser hair removal offers an efficient way to permanently reduce excessive hair growth. Hair is damaged using the principle of selective photothermolysis with wavelengths of light well absorbed by follicular melanin and pulse durations that selectively thermally damage the target without damaging surrounding tissue.

Long-term evaluation of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser for the removal of bikini hair at shortened treatment intervals.

Background: Laser-assisted hair removal is becoming the treatment of choice for removing unwanted hair.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to determine the long-term efficacy of the long-pulsed infrared (LPIR) laser at shortened treatment intervals for the treatment of bikini hair.

Methods: Eleven patients received five treatments at 3-week intervals to the right groin using the LPIR laser.

A review of the ruby laser with reference to hair depilation.

There is a clinical need in the fields of reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery for a safe, simple, and effective method of hair depilation. Depilatory clinics have been established throughout the country, commonly using the ruby laser, to treat a cohort of the population, estimated to be between 6% and 10%, recognized as being hirsute. Clinical trials performed to date have not established a protocol that suits the previously mentioned criteria and have been, usually, small in number and short in follow-up.

Laser applications in oculoplastic surgery and their postoperative complications.

Laser surgery for oculoplastic or dermatological indications--whether incisional work, removal of pigmented or vascular lesions, removal of hair, or resurfacing--necessitates that the practitioner have appropriate training in and understanding of not only the techniques but also of their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding laser safety and how to handle complications is critical to appropriate management of laser-assisted surgery. Long-term results are limited at this time, but current information regarding the use of lasers in aesthetic oculoplastic surgery appears promising.