Evaluation of Effectiveness of Diode Laser System (808 nm) versus Intense Pulse Light (IPL) in the Management of Unwanted Hair: A Split Face Comparative Study

Hayder R. AL-Hamamy¹, Anmar Z. Saleh², Zahra A. Rashed^2*

¹Department of Dermatology and Venereology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
²Department of Medical Physics, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

DOI: 10.4236/ijmpcero.2015.41006                

Abstract

We have evaluated and compared the effectiveness of diode laser system (808 nm) and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) system (690 - 1200 nm) by studying the change in hair density, and the time of regrowth the hair. A total of 26 have completed three months’ treatment, aged 16 - 50 years. Patients were treated by diode laser 808 nm and IPL 690 - 1200 nm devices. Pulse repetition rate for both was 1 Hz and short pulse width for diode laser and the IPL pulse width was 15 ms. The fluence was (33 - 41 and 30 - 41) J/cm2 respectively. A split face treatment method was used. The treatment was carried out on monthly bases for three months. Hair density and regrowth duration were recorded before and after each session. After the third session, the hair density was decreased by (58%) for diode laser versus (49%) for IPL p = 0.366. The time of hair regrowth was increased to (327%) for diode laser versus IPL (339%) p = 0.821. Pain appeared more during the treatment with IPL than with diode laser. Post treatment side effects such as erythema, hyper pigmentation, and burn appeared on patients treated with diode laser more than those treated with IPL. In conclusion both diode laser and IPL were effective in reduction of hair density, and prolongation of the time of hair regrowth.

Keywords

Unwanted Facial Hair, Diode Laser, IPL

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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