Hyperandrogenism does not predispose patients to photoepilatory treatment failure: a single-center review

Studies have suggested that patients with PCOS tend to be more treatment resistant to light-mediated depilation compared with their non-PCOS counterparts. We conducted a retrospective assessment of 29 hirsute patients treated between January 2006 and February 2007 to assess whether those with unsatisfactory hair clearance after treatment with intense pulsed light (IPL) were predominantly hyperandrogenic. The number of IPL sessions was also recorded for those patients failing to improve on treatment. Seventy-six percent had satisfactory hair clearance where hyperandrogenic patients dominated. All patients required an average of six treatments before discharge. Eighty-eight percent of poor responders were normoandrogenic. Our hyperandrogenic cohort appeared more responsive to IPL than the normoandrogenic patients. From our observations, the presence of hyperandrogenism does not indicate treatment resistance. This standpoint is unique and warrants a randomized trial directly comparing the two groups to investigate whether a positive or negative relationship actually exists.