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Effects of a long-pulsed 800-nm diode laser on axillary hyperhidrosis: a randomized controlled half-side comparison
Falk G Bechara1, Dimitrios Georgas, Michael Sand
1Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. f.bechara@derma.de
Background:
Generally, axillary hyperhidrosis (AH) is treated with antiperspirant agents, botulinum toxin, or local surgery. The effect of laser treatment on sweat secretion in patients with AH has not been investigated.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of diode laser epilation on the sweat rate of patients with AH.
Materials And Methods:
We performed a randomized half-side controlled trial. Twenty-one patients were treated with 5 cycles of an 800-nm diode laser. Sweat rates were documented using gravimetry and a visual analogue scale. Histologic examination was performed in all patients before and after treatment.
Results:
A significant reduction in sweat rate was observed on the laser-treated (median 89 mg/min, range 42-208 mg/min vs 48 mg/min, range 17-119 mg/min; p < .001) and the untreated contralateral (median 78 mg/min, range 25-220 mg/min vs median 65 mg/min, range 24-399 mg/min; p = .04) sides, although no significant difference was found between the treated and untreated sides (p = .10).
Conclusion:
Although we observed a significant decrease in sweat rate on laser-treated sites, laser epilation was not able to reduce the sweat rate significantly more than on the untreated contralateral side. These results probably indicate a placebo effect rather than a direct therapeutic effect of laser epilation.
