Hair removal with neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser and pneumatic skin flattening in Asians.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Based on the "gate theory" of pain transmission, pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) may reduce pain during laser hair removal. OBJECTIVE: To compare the pain, efficacy, and adverse effects after laser hair reduction using PSF with that using a dynamic cooling device (DCD) in Asians. METHODS: Twelve participants (skin types III-IV) received laser hair removal with a PSF device on the right axilla and DCD on the other side. Pain was assessed based on a visual analogue scale. Hair regrowth was rated based on photographs taken before treatment and in follow-up visits at 8 and 36 weeks. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of participants felt less pain in the PSF side than the DCD side right after laser treatment. On a scale of 1 to 10, the immediate mean pain score was 5.7±2.0 for the PSF side and 6.5±1.5 for the DCD side (p=.09). Seventy-five percent of the participants preferred treatments with PSF. Efficacy of hair reduction was similar on both sides 8 and 36 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSION: PSF decreases pain sensation during laser hair removal while allowing higher energy densities in Asian patients. The equal efficacy and complication rate of PSF indicates that it is a feasible alternative to DCD at lower cost.