Efficacy and safety of a 0.65 millisecond pulsed portable ND:YAG laser for hair removal.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Based upon the thermal relaxation time of the hair follicle (10-50 ms), most lasers and light devices use relatively long pulse widths for hair removal. This study was conducted to evaluate a shorter pulsed, 0.65 ms Nd:YAG laser for hair removal. METHODS One half of each axilla of six female participants was treated and the other half was monitored as a control. The treatment sites were treated with a fluence of either 21 J/cm(2) or 36 J/cm(2) using an Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm and a pulse duration of 0.65 ms. A manual hair count was done before treatment and at each follow-up visit. RESULTS Four months after four monthly treatments, the hair reduction was graded as 5 (75-100% reduction) on the high fluence side and 4 on the low fluence side (50-75% reduction) by individuals and investigators. The average hair count 4 months after four treatments in the sites treated with a high fluence went from 114 to 28 (76% reduction) and in the low fluence areas from 135 to 38 (72% reduction). CONCLUSION This well-controlled study shows that a 0.65 ms Nd:YAG laser is effective and safe for hair removal.