Home hair removal in all skin types with a combined radiofrequency and optical energy source device

Background Home hair removal devices are available for skin types I to IV. Side effects may limit hair removal in darker-pigmented individuals. Objective To evaluate a home hair removal device using combined radiofrequency (RF) and intense pulsed light (IPL) energy for effectiveness and safety with all skin types (I-VI). Design Two study designs: effectiveness (treating 94 bilateral patient areas weekly seven times, with one side then receiving three additional treatments at 4-week intervals) and safety (37 patient areas treated every 2-4 days for three sessions). Measurements Hairs were counted 3 months after treatment for the first design and 2 months after for the second. Results In the first study design, 55% hair count reduction was achieved1 month after seven treatments to all sites. The side with no further sessions had 43% hair reduction and the side receiving ongoing treatment had 58% reduction after two further treatments. Side effects were transient and minor. In the second study, with 46% of the patients having skin types V/VI, 2 months after the procedure there was 44% hair reduction. There were no adverse effects reported. Conclusion For the first time, a home hair removal device has been shown to be effective and safe in all skin types using a low-energy RF-IPL device.