1. Overview of Clinical Studies On Laser Hair Removal
By: Vickie L. Mickey, CT,CLHRP

2. Simulated Consumer Use of a Battery Hand-Held Portable Diode Laser for Hair Removal
Conducted by Ronald Wheeland, MD
University of Missouri – Columbia
Study was designed to determine safety, efficacy and ease of use
Study designed with a treatment group
of 77 appropriate users and 44 inappropriate users

3. Results: 61% hair reduction after 3 weeks first treatment
70% hair reduction after second treatment
60% hair reduction 1 month after third treatment
41% hair reduction third treatment
31% hair reduction 9 months after third treatment

4. Conclusions Laser highly effective at hair removal
Minimal side effects w/appropriate use
Contract sponsor : Spectra Genics, Inc.
Published July 23, 2007 Wiley Interscience

5. Hair Removal With 755 nm Lasers: Long Term Results 8.5 Years
Study conducted by: Gabriel Buendia, Eva Ciscar, Katharina Usse-Wilfinger
Method – Study 668 patients treated in 2 cities in Barcelona, Spain and Innsbruck, Austria

6. Method Cont:
1 – 2 body parts treated including axilla, bikini, legs, back
755 nm Alexandrite laser
16 – 25 J/cm2
7 – 15 mm spot size
10 – 40 ms pulse duration
Epidermal cooling on all procedures

7. Results: 1009 sites treated 100% reduction in 899 sites
98 sites presented less hair reduction
12 patients did not respond
82% reduction in facial areas
17% unstable reduction
1% did not respond

8. Results cont. 93% reduction in bikini area 5% unstable
2% did not respond

9. Conclusions
The alexandrite long pulsed 755nm lasers are effective in long term hair reduction or even permanent hair removal.

10. Clinical Comparison of Four Hair Removal Lasers and Light Sources
Shehal P. Amin & David J. Goldberg
Skin Laser and Surgery Specialist of NY & NJ
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY USA

11. Abstract/ Background and Objectives:
There are few clinical studies that directly compare the efficacy of multiple hair removal system in the same individual. This study comparison evaluates the efficacy of four highly popular systems for laser hair removal.

12. Method: 10 subjects underwent unwanted hair removal on back & thighs
Skin types I- III
Ages 18 – 55 years
Treated twice with:
Intense pulsed light with red filter
Intense pulsed light with yellow filter
810 nm diode
755nm alexandrite laser

13. Method Cont: 4 treatment areas
Commonly accepted parameters for permanent hair reduction
Non-treated areas/Marked treatment areas
Hair count camera 1, 3, & 6 months, after second treatment
Clinical results & adverse events were noted

14. Methods Cont:
All light sources/lasers were FDA approved

15. Results:
Photographs revealed significant decrease in hair counts (-50%) and (-55%) hair coverage
Remaining hair after two treatments presented no statistical difference in hair length or diameter
No statistical difference in efficacy between the four different light devices

16. Results cont: Minimal transient effects were noted from all systems
Cryogen spray-based alexandrite laser showed highest pain scores

17. Conclusion:
Hair removal with the commonly used systems is as expected highly effective
Treatment with light-based devices can cause less pain, yet show efficacy similar to laser systems

18. Patient Reported Pain Scores
IPL I Palomar Mean pain score 3.4
IPL II Palomar Mean pain score 2.1
810 nm Lumenis diode laser- Mean pain score 2.3
755 nm Candela alexandrite laser-Mean pain score 4.1

19. Blond Hair Removal Using ELOS Systems
Careen A. Schroeter, Sapna Sharma, Ngozi C. Mbonu, Thorsten Reineke & Herman A. M. Neumann
Department of Lasertherapy, Medical Center Maastricht, The Netherlands, Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, & Department of Dermatology and Verereology Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

20. Abstract/Objective:
Study was conducted to test blond hair removal using the ELOS system, which is optical energy and radio-frequency combined
Study Date December 2005: accepted January 26, 2006

21. Methods:
17 patients with blond hair were randomly selected from the Department of Lasertherapy, Medical Center Maastrichtm The Netherlands.
Mean age was 57.4 years
Mean energy used per patient was 23.2 j/cm2 with mean radio-frequency 18.6 j/cm2

22. Results: 57.4% hair reduction obtained with mean 8.5 treatments
A trend was found between hair removal and the number of treatments
No correlation between the percentage of hair removal and age and technical data of device
No major side effects observed postoperatively

23. Introduction
Hair removal options vary in efficacy, degree of discomfort, and cost
Common methods are: plucking, shaving, mechanical and chemical dermabrasion
Methods are less expensive yet temporary
Long term methods are: needle epilation, surgical epilation, laser epilation and intense pulse light source

24. Introduction Cont.:
Management of hirsutism remains challenging to dermatologists & cosmetic surgeons world wide
Search for a method that will give enduring results with minimum side effects has been on going for years
Hair growth cycles, stages of growth, color or hair, areas of hair growth are all factors in resolving this dilemma

25. Introduction cont.:
Methods of hair removal all have their distinct set of advantages and disadvantages
Increased demand for safe and effective hair removal
IPL and laser technology promise rapid results and is effective
Lasers can treat hundreds of hairs simultaneously in comparison to electrolysis
Gorgu et al concluded that laser hair removal is more expensive than electrolysis but 60 times faster and less painful
Fewer sessions are needed with laser vs. electrolysis with better results

26. Introduction cont.:
Light skin with dark hair responds best to laser or light based hair removal
Light colored hair is more difficult to treat with lasers or LPL
Laser hair removal is based on photo-thermolysis and thermal relaxation time
Initial studies indicated that all lasers caused a delay in growth of hair after a single treatment

27. Introduction cont.:
The concept of photo-thermolysis with laser light was first described by Kuriloff in 1988 for pharyngo-oesophageal hair growth
The argon laser was used for photo-epilation in the treatment of trachomatous trichiasis
Nd:Yag laser for epilaton of hair bearing urethral grafts in 1992 & 1994
Dr. Jeffrey used the ruby laser for epilation of the hair follicle in 1989

28. Introduction cont.:
Dr. Zaias proposed the concept of a pulsed laser for hair removal in 1991
Increasing numbers of published studies confirm the long-term efficacy of laser and flashlamp technology
Laser and ILP still have limitations in regards to the hair removal with concerns to lighter hair

29. Introduction cont.:
The side effects of the ILP and laser remain constant today in regards to pain and complications.
The second generations of the IPL are more effective in hair removal however use by a skilled practitioners is necessary as to the difficulty in the use of the device
A novel method to surmount the restrictions of light-based hair removal is the ELOS technology or Electro-Optical Synergy

30. ELOS – The Aurora DS
Delivers a combination of radio-frequency and a pulse of red to infrared light to achieve the heating required for selective thermal energy
Energy delivered to the skin from the RF is independent of skin color and there is no epidermal barrier to absorption as with optical energy
This deliver prevents overheating of surrounding tissues.
Skin is pre-cooled and the target is selectively pre-heated by application of a low-fluence optical pulse.
The RF energy increases the difference in temperature between the epidermis and the target, this combination of RF and optical enables coagulation level with low risk

31. ELOS – Cont.: Few studies have been conducted regarding the ELOS
Dr. Neil Sadick conducted a studies in 2004 using the ELOS system observed an average of 48% hair removal in 18 months
Slightly higher results with blond hair (52%) vs. (44%) white hair

32. Discussion of Study
This study found consistent results with Dr. Sadick’s studies
RF has been used for over a century to treat the hair follicle, however the thermal effect is not conducted well in the hair shaft
Electrical current created between the electrodes streams is concentrate in layer of 20 – 40 microns around the hair

33. Discussion Cont.:
The bulge area is important as well as the hair follicle in regards to hair regrowth
Studies have shown that hair can regenerate from totally follicle-free skin
RF does not need a chromophore to effectively treat the hair follicle
RF properties permit negligible reflection or scattering of energy
Light energies require a chromophore in the skin and permits scattering of energies.

34. Discussion cont.: RF requires a conductive media (water) to
RF enables a direct measure of the current and voltage on the electrodes delivered to the skin
This study shows advances in technology for hair removal, however further research with greater numbers is advised

35. Conclusion
The ELOS system can be effectively used in reduction of blond hair.