A comparative study of hair removal at an NHS hospital: Luminette intense pulsed light versus electrolysis.

Twenty-five women, referred for hair removal by electrolysis, were enrolled in a split face study to treat facial hirsutism. Each patient was treated on six occasions: one-half of the face with electrolysis and the other side with an intense pulsed light source. Patients were evaluated with respect to reduction in hair counts, side effects and discomfort during treatment. Re-growth was assessed at 3, 6 and 9 months following treatment. All patients, except one with very sparse, fair hair growth, preferred treatment with the Intense Pulsed Light and rated their average hair reduction with this method as 77% after five treatments. The overall patient satisfaction rates as determined by visual analogue scales were 8.3 out of 10 for IPL and 5.4 out of 10 for electrolysis.