Hair removal in 40 hirsute women with an intense laser-like light source

Until recently, previously applied methods to remove hair have ultimately p roven ineffective or resulted in the formation of scars and small wounds. D ifferent methods for removing hair in a more or less permanent way have bee n used: electrolysis, thermolysis and the blend method. In this study we de scribe the removal of hair without side-effects by means of non-laser incoh erent emitted light, produced by the ILS flashlamp, In a multicenter study we treated 40 women with a median age of 38.6 years with hirsute hair growt h of different hair colours on the upper lip and chin, In general 76.7% of the hair was removed within 6 treatments, with an average fluence of 38.7 J /cm(2) and a mean wavelength of 585 nm per patient. A correlation was found between the percentage reduction of hairs and the n umber of treatments and between hair removal and needle epilation before tr eatment. Futhermore, a correlation was seen between hair reduction and wave lengths of 570 nm and 550 nm. No association was found between hair removal and clinical data of the patients, nor between hair reduction and technica l data of the device. This study presents a new alternative for hair remova l.