A 1060 nm diode laser system offers advantages over the Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser for permanent hair reduction, researchers report in a small study published earlier this year in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
In this multicenter study, researchers treated 16 adults with the chilled sapphire tip and another 26 adults with the large spot size vacuum-assisted handpiece. Men and women with various skin types and dark brown or black hair in areas they wanted permanently removed participated in the study. Half of the subjects in the large spot size vacuum-assisted handpiece group were skin type IV.
Researchers treated subjects with the chilled sapphire tip (LightSheer Infinity 1060 nm Chill Tip ET) in six sessions, at four- to six-week intervals and another group with the large spot vacuum-assisted handpiece (LightSheer Infinity 1060 nm High Speed vacuum-assisted laser) in seven sessions, at six-week intervals.
They found that those treated with the chilled sapphire tip had a mean 68% skin-type independent hair count reduction in the axillae at six months compared to baseline. Results were 82% on the shin and 76% on the arm; 80% or more of subjects indicated their hair reduction was good or very good and they were satisfied to highly satisfied with treatment results.
Treatment with the large spot size vacuum‐assisted handpiece was most effective in the axillae and on the calves. At six months, subjects experienced an average 77.9% hair count reduction in the axillae and 78.5% hair count reduction on the calves. Most rated their hair reduction as good or very good and indicated they were satisfied to highly satisfied with the results.
The average hair count reduction at six months was 72.52% with the chilled sapphire tip and 74.1% with the large spot size vacuum-assisted handpiece.
Neither handpiece caused intolerable pain requiring anesthetic or significant clinical sequelae. Treatment responses were faster with the chilled sapphire tip but both handpieces resulted in significant and long-lasting hair clearance in all skin types.
Similar to other study findings, the Nd:YAG 1064’s efficacy was similar or better to what has been reported in hair reduction with the long‐pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The 1060 nm diode laser system appears to offer advantages including speed and comfort with the large spot size vacuum‐assisted handpiece over large and flat areas, according to the study.
“In addition, application of the smaller chilled sapphire contact cooling handpiece allows for simple treatment for small and curvy areas,” the authors conclude.
No relevant disclosures were reported.
