Table 3:
LHR in treatment in pseudofolliculitis barbae
| S/No. | Study | Patient no. | Laser parameters | Treatment sittings | Follow-up | Outcome | Adverse effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chui et al.[36] | 1 | Ruby; 15 J/cm2, 3ms,10 mm | 3 | 10 | Sustained reduction in disease activity and hair growth | None |
| 2 | Greppi et al.[38] | 4 | Diode; 10 J/cm2,30ms, 9 mm | 7–10 | — | Papular lesions resolved. 75–90% hair reduction | Blistering, transient hyper- and hypopigmentation |
| 3 | Kauvar et al.[35] | 10 | Diode (810nm); 30–38 J/cm2, 20ms,9 mm | 3 | 6–8 weeks | >50% reduction in PFB lesions; 51–75% hair reduction in 6/10 patients, >75% in 4/10 patients | Transient perifollicular erythema and crusts |
| 4 | Leheta et al.[42] | 20 | Alexandrite; 10–18 J/ cm2, 3ms, 15 mm | 7 | 12 | 80% reduction in mean PFB lesion count with Alexandrite, as compared to 50% reduction in mean PFB lesion count with IPL | Perifollicular edema and erythema |
| 5 | Nanni et al.[37] | 10 | Alexandrite; 5–8 J/cm2, 20ms, 12.5 mm | 6 | 4 | ≥50% reduction in lesion count in 100% of patients,≥75% reduction in 25% | Rare treatment discomfort, transient hyperpigmentation, crusting |
| 6 | Koch et al.[23] | 2 | Nd:YAG; 25–35, 40ms,12mm Alexandrite; 18–22 J/ cm2, 20ms, 12 mm | 6 | 16 | — | |
| 7 | Rogers et al.[44] | 18 | QS Nd:YAG; 2.5 J/cm2, 10 pulses/s,7 mm | 1–2 | 2 | 56% mean reduction in PFB lesions in 50% patients | Immediate (one patient) and delayed hypo- and hyperpigmentation, blistering (1 patient), pain, erythema |
| 8 | Ross et al.[43] | 28 | Nd:YAG; 50,80, 100 J/ cm2 50ms, 5 mm | 1 | 3 | Mean papule count 1.0 vs. 6.95 in treatment and control (untreated) areas, respectively; >80% hair reduction observed at 6 months | Transient perifollicular erythema and crusting, transient hypopigmentation in 1 case |
| 9 | Smith et al.[41] | 13 | Diode (810nm); 23–34 J/cm2 | 3 | 3 | Reduction in PFB lesion count from baseline 22.5 to 5 (mean) | Perifollicular edema, crusting, and pigmentation in 1 case |
| 10 | Schulze et al.[45] | 22 | Nd:YAG; 12 J/cm2, 20ms, 10 mm | 5 | 1 | 83% improvement on the global assessment scale for 11/22 patients. Mean reduction of 91.2% in papule count and 75.6% in cobble-stoning. | Mild discomfort and erythema |
| 11 | Weaver et al.[39] | 20 | Nd:YAG; 24–40 J/cm2, 40–50ms, 10 mm | 2 | 3 | Mean 75.92% reduction in PFB lesion count, mean 23.81% reduction in hair count; 42% satisfied and 58% very satisfied patients | Transient hyper- and hypopigmentation, mild erythema and itching |
| 12 | Yamauchi et al.[40] | 1 | Diode (800nm); 10 J/ cm2, 30ms, 9 mm | 4 | N/S | Decrease in PFB lesions and hair density, delay in residual hair growth | Crusting |
LHR = laser hair removal; Nd:YAG = neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet; PFB = pseudofolliculitis barbae