Laser and photoepilation for unwanted hair growth

 

Abstract

Background

Unwanted hair growth is a therapeutic challenge and considerable resources are spent to achieve a hair-free appearance. Epilation with laser devices (alexandrite, diode, neodymium:YAG, and ruby lasers) and intense pulsed light are commonly used although the long-term effect is uncertain.

Objectives

To assess the effects of epilation with lasers and light sources.

Search methods

We searched the Cochrane Skin Group's Specialised Register in February 2004; MEDLINE (from 1966) and EMBASE (from 1980) in April 2005. We searched reference lists of collected trials and contacted trial authors.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials of laser or photoepilation.

Data collection and analysis

Primary outcomes were objective reduction in hair counts, adverse effects and subjective reduction in hairiness. Secondary outcomes were participants´ satisfaction and personal observations such as softer, finer, or paler hairs. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality.

Main results

We included eleven randomised controlled trials involving 444 people, none of which were of high methodological quality. A large number of trials were excluded, mainly because of their non-randomised design. The randomisation procedures were either unclear or inadequate, using coin tossing, alternation, drawing lots or cards, or open tables of random numbers. The interventions and outcomes were too heterogeneous to be entered in a meta-analysis. Most trials examined a short-term effect up to six months after final treatment. There appeared to be a short-term effect of approximately 50% hair reduction with alexandrite and diode lasers up to six months after treatment, whereas little evidence was obtained for an effect of intense pulsed light, neodymium:YAG or ruby lasers. Long-term hair removal was not documented with any treatment. Pain, skin redness, swelling, burned hairs and pigmentary changes were infrequently reported adverse effects.

Authors' conclusions

Some treatments lead to temporary short-term hair removal. High quality research is needed on the effect of laser and photoepilation.

 

Plain language summary

Unwanted hair removal by laser systems and intense pulsed light sources

Unwanted hair growth is a challenge and considerable resources are spent to achieve a hair-free appearance. Hair removal with laser devices (alexandrite, diode, neodymium:YAG, and ruby lasers) and intense pulsed light are widespread methods for hair removal although the long-term effect is uncertain.

Eleven randomised controlled trials were included in the review, none of which were of high quality. A large number of trials were excluded, mainly because of their non-randomised designs. There appeared to be a short-term effect of approximately 50% hair reduction with alexandrite and diode lasers up to six months after treatment, whereas there was little evidence for an effect with intense pulsed light, neodymium:YAG or ruby lasers. Long-term hair removal was not recorded for any treatment. Infrequently reported adverse effects were pain, skin redness, swelling, burned hairs and pigmentary changes.

 

摘要

背景

以雷射和強光除毛來治療多餘的毛髮生長

多餘的毛髮生長是一個治療上的挑戰，已經有可觀的資源被運用來去除多餘的毛髮。雷射除毛設備 (像是紫翠玉，二極體，銣雅鉻和紅寶石雷射) 和脈衝光是常被使用的，雖然長期效果還不是很確定的。

目標

要評估雷射與各種光源的除毛效果。

搜尋策略

我們在2005年4月搜尋了the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register (2004年2月); MEDLINE (自1966年) 以及EMBASE (自1980年) 我們搜尋了這些試驗的參考文獻清單,並且和這些試驗的作者也有接觸。

選擇標準

雷射或強光除毛的隨機對照試驗

資料收集與分析

主要結果包括客觀上頭髮量的減少，副作用，和主觀感覺上頭髮的減少。次要結果是參與者立即的滿意和個人觀察例如更軟，更細或者是更白的毛髮。二位作者獨立地取得了數據並且評估了試驗品質。

主要結論

我們包括了涵蓋444個人的11個隨機受控試驗，在方法學上都不是高品質。很大量的試驗被排除了，主要由於他們的非隨機化設計。他們所謂的隨機化過程不是不清楚的就是不適當的，使用擲硬幣，輪流，抽籤或抽卡片，或者開放隨機數表。介入治療和結果相差太多的以至於不能被接受為整合分析。大多數試驗審視了治療結束後六個月的短期作用。以紫翠玉和二極體雷射治療後六個月的短期作用，大約有50% 的毛髮減少，而脈衝光，銣雅鉻和紅寶石雷射的治療數據則甚少。無任何治療證明長期的除毛效果。痛，皮膚紅，腫脹，毛髮燒傷，與皮膚顏色變深則是少見的被報告的副作用。

作者結論

有些治療呈現出短暫短期的除毛效果。未來雷射和強光除毛效果的高品質嚴謹研究仍是需要的。

翻譯人

本摘要由馬偕醫院郭映伶翻譯。

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院 (National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan) 統籌。

總結

以雷射系統和脈衝光源來治療多餘的毛髮生長：多餘的毛髮生長是一種挑戰，已經有可觀的資源被運用來除掉多餘的毛髮。雷射除毛設備 (像是紫翠玉，二極體，銣雅鉻和紅寶石雷射) 和脈衝光是廣為使用的除毛方式，雖然長期效果還不是很確定的。此次檢閱包含11個隨機對照試驗，都不是高品質嚴謹的試驗。有很大量的試驗被排除了，主要由於他們的非隨機化設計。以紫翠玉和二極體雷射治療後六個月的短期作用，大約有50% 的毛髮減少。而脈衝光，銣雅鉻和紅寶石雷射的治療數據則甚少。無任何治療有長期的除毛效果。痛，皮膚紅，腫脹，毛髮燒傷，與皮膚顏色變深則是少見的被報告的副作用。