Features of laser epilation of androgen-dependent areas: Correction of fluence and pulse duration parameters for male skin
Keywords:
terminal hair growth, follicular thermolysis, hair density reduction, selective photothermolysis, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentationAbstract
The aim of this study was a comparative assessment of the clinical efficacy and safety of a modified laser epilation protocol for androgen-dependent areas in men. A prospective comparative study with a split-body intra-subject design included 52 male patients with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-IV. Assessment was carried out using phototrichometry at four control points, subjective tolerability of procedures was recorded using a visual analogue scale, protocol safety was verified through clinical monitoring of adverse reactions, and correlation dependencies were established using Spearman’s rank analysis. Upon completion of a full course of 6-8 procedures, the reduction in terminal hair density in the intervention zone was 57.6% versus 40.8% in the control (t=8.12; p<0.001; Cohen’s d=0.88). Statistically significant inter-protocol differences persisted at 3 and 6 months after treatment (p<0.001), with hair density in the intervention zone being 43.5±9.4 versus 61.3±10.5 hairs/cm² in the control. Subjective tolerability of procedures was identical in both zones – the median pain sensation was 3 points (Z=1.21; p=0.23). No cases of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation were recorded in any patient, including 71.1% of participants with skin phototypes III-IV. Fluence and pulse duration acted as independent predictors of efficacy (ρ=0.62 and ρ=0.58, respectively; p<0.01). The obtained results may be used for the development of standardised clinical protocols for laser epilation of androgen-dependent areas in men with moderately and highly pigmented skin, ensuring high therapeutic efficacy
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