A randomized double blind, vehicle controlled bilateral comparison study of the efficacy and safety of finasteride 0.5% solution in combination with intense pulsed light in the treatment of facial hirsutism.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine whether topical finasteride can enhance the efficacy of intense pulsed light hair removal.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment with radiofrequency (RF) was performed every four weeks, resulting in up to three sessions, and again at the end of the study - 6 months after the start of the experiment. Each patient also applied either finasteride or placebo solution twice daily to each side of the chin in a double-blinded manner.

RESULTS

A total of 77 patients were included in the study. Mean hair density before treatment in finasteride side of the patient's chin was 19.7 ± 11.7 and in placebo side was 19.1 ± 11.3. After three sessions of IPL + RF treatment, combined with twice daily application of finasteride and placebo solutions, at the end of 6-month period mean hair density of 8 ± 6.3 and 9 ± 5.6 was achieved in finasteride and placebo side respectively. Statistically significant difference was found between finasteride and placebo solution.

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated that the addition of finasteride solution to IPL + RF hair removal may result in a more reduction of unwanted facial hair in women when the combination is used for up to 6 months.