Effectiveness and Safety of Intense Pulsed Light in Hirsutism

Abstract

Background: Since beauty standards have widely change over the last few decades, women feel self-conscious about having unwanted hair that leads to low self-esteem and some develop depression. Although hirsutism can be emotionally distressing, it can be treated. Females have a lot of pressure to undergo painful procedures of hair removing like plucking, treading and creams that can temporarily remove or reduce the visibility of unwanted facial and body hair. In the past two decades of digital technology, lasers have modernized their use in the treatment of many skin conditions including hirsutism. As intense pulsed light is economical and more cost effective, it can be a more suitable option for those who cannot meet the high expenses of laser treatment. Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of intense pulsed light in females with hirsutism. Study Design: Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, HIT Hospital Taxila from 1st October 2020 to 30th September 2021. Methodology: Sixty patients of idiopathic hirsutism more than 15 years of age were enrolled. Both the history and examination were done. Diagnosis of idiopathic hirsutism was made on clinical examination using and necessary investigations. Those who had photosensitivity, hormonal therapy or hormonal disturbance, infertility, white hair hirsute, pregnancy, and history of keloid or hypertrophic scar were excluded from the study. Treatment was given for six sessions, with one month apart. Parameters of IPL were adjusted according to (Fitzpatrick) skin type, the density of hair, and fluency, the fluence will be increased subsequently depending upon the response of the patient. Post treatment, participants were evaluated and a 4-point scale was used to grade the results. Patients were told to revisit after 6 months to assess the regrowth of hair on face. Conclusion: Intense pulsed light is the cheap, effective and safe option for hirsutism that a third world country like ours needed where the socio-economic status is relatively low. Keywords: Idiopathic hirsutism, Intense pulsed light (IPL), Fitzpatrick skin type