Objective evaluation of photoepilation by phototrichogram

Photoepilation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. However, there has been no objective method to evaluate the efficacy of hair removal. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of photoepilation more objectively using a phototrichogram method. Thirteen young, healthy, female volunteers were enrolled in this study. At initial work-up, semi-permanent tattoos were marked in both axillae of all the volunteers and hair variables were evaluated by phototrichogram and digital camera. Intense pulsed light-assisted photoepilations were performed in both axillae of the volunteers twice at 4-week intervals. At each visit, dermatologists checked changes of hair parameters. Clinically, 8 weeks after two treatments, hair reduction of all patients was achieved. Total hair counts, changes of anagen ratio, non-vellus hair counts, hair density, anagen growth rate and hair diameter were decreased sequentially and the reduction was statistically significant. No correlations were found between power, pain, patient and doctor evaluations at 4 weeks. Doctor evaluations correlated with anagen hair counts, anagen/total hair ratio, anagen/telogen ratio and total growth rate. Using phototrichograms could be an objective evaluation technique for hair removal. Anagen parameters and total growth rate of hairs in phototrichograms may be able to be predictable values for evaluating epilation.