An efficacy comparison of hair removal utilizing a diode laser and an Nd:YAG laser system in Chinese women

Background : The 800 nm diode laser and the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser have been used successfully for hair removal for many years. Objective : To compare the efficacy of a diode laser with a Nd:YAG laser regarding axillary fossa hair removal in Chinese women. Methods : Twenty-nine Chinese women underwent three treatment sessions at 4-week intervals with a diode laser (34-38 J/cm(2)) on one side and a Nd:YAG laser (34-40 J/cm2) on the other side. Assessments included the reduction of hair diameter following treatment, the regrowth rate in hair length, total hair reduction and the immediate pain associated with the treatments. Results : At follow-up visit number 1 (4 weeks after the first session), the average reduction in hair diameter on the diode laser side and the Nd:YAG laser side was 2.44 mu m and -0.6 mu m, respectively. The regrowth rates of the hair were 61.93 mu m/day and 59.84 mu m/day, respectively, which were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). At follow-up visit number 1, hair reduction was 60.09% and 41.44%, respectively. At follow-up visit number 2 (4 weeks after the second session), hair reduction was noted to be 78.56% and 64.50%, respectively, which were both statistically significant (p < 0.05). Immediate pain scores at the first session were 6.97 and 6.17, respectively; at the second session were 5.48 and 6.69, respectively; and at the third session were 5.76 and 7.45, respectively; all statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions : The diode laser showed more efficacy and was found to be more comfortable than the Nd:YAG laser for axillary fossa hair removal in Chinese women.