Skip to main content

A comparison study of the efficacy and side effects of different light sources in hair removal

Lasers in Medical Science volume 21, pages 1–4 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Unwanted hairs are a common problem in which different light sources were developed as the treatment of choice. Alexandrite laser, diode laser, and intense pulsed light (IPL) were clinically used for this purpose with long-term scarce comparative results. The objective of the study was to compare the clinical efficacy, complications, and long-term hair reduction of alexandrite laser, diode laser, and IPL. Clinical trials on 232 persons using diode, alexandrite, laser and IPL were conducted. The number of sessions to reach optimal result varied between 3 and 7. Then the side effects were evaluated. Six months after the last session, optimal hair reduction was observed with no significant differences between the light sources, but a hair reduction was found to be higher using the diode laser. Side effects were observed with all light sources but more frequently with diode. Our findings indicate that all three light sources tested have similar effects on hair removal and in Iranian patients, using lower wavelengths minimizes the side effects.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Ross EV, Ladin Z, Kreindel M, Dierickx C (1999) Theoretical considerations in laser hair removal. Dermatol Clin 17:333–355

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Olsen EA (1999) Methods of hair removal. J Am Acad Dermatol 40(2 Pt 1):143–157

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Tse Y (1999) Hair removal using a pulsed-intense light source. Dermatol Clin 17:373–385

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Campos VB, Dierickx CC, Farinelli WA, Lin TD, Manuskiatti W, Anderson R (2000) Hair removal with an 800-nm pulsed diode laser. J Am Acad Dermatol 43(3):442–447

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Handrick C, Alster TS (2001) Comparison of long-pulsed diode and long-pulsed alexandrite lasers for hair removal: a long-term clinical and histologic study. Dermatol Surg 622–626

  6. Garcia C, Almoundi H, Nakib M, Zimmo S (2000) Alexandrite laser hair removal is safe for fitzpatrick skin type IV–VI. Dermatol Surg 26(2):130–134

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hussain M, Polnikorn N, Goldberg D (2003) Laser-assisted hair removal in Asian skin. Dermatol Surg 29(3):249–254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Galadari I (2003) Comparative evaluation of different hair removal lasers in skin types IV, V and VI. Int J Dermatol 42(1):68–70

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Eremia S, Li CY, Umar SH, Newman N (2001) Laser hair removal: long-term results with a 755 nm alexandrite laser. Dermatol Surg 27(11):920–930

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Shohada Hospital, Tehran, Iran

    Parviz Toosi, Afshin Sadighha, Ali Sharifian & Gita Meshkat Razavi

Authors
  1. Parviz Toosi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Afshin Sadighha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ali Sharifian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gita Meshkat Razavi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Sharifian.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Toosi, P., Sadighha, A., Sharifian, A. et al. A comparison study of the efficacy and side effects of different light sources in hair removal. Lasers Med Sci 21, 1–4 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0373-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0373-2

Keywords

  • Alexandrite laser
  • Diode laser
  • Laser hair removal
  • Intense pulsed light