Long-term Facial and Body Hair Removal With a Combined Radiofrequency and Optical Home-Use Device for All Skin Types.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine
• Photomedicine
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Home-use hair removal devices are increasingly popular for cosmetic purposes.
• Evaluating the long-term efficacy and safety of novel combined energy devices is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of a combined radiofrequency (RF) and intense pulsed light (IPL) home hair removal device.
• To evaluate performance across all Fitzpatrick skin types and on both facial and body areas.

Main Methods:

• Two study designs were employed: one for body areas with weekly treatments followed by monthly maintenance, and another for facial areas with a phased treatment schedule.
• Hair count evaluations were conducted up to 12 months post-treatment.
• The device utilized a maximum energy of 4 J/cm².

Main Results:

• Significant hair reduction was observed at 12 months post-treatment (52% on body maintenance sites, 42% on facial sites).
• The device demonstrated effectiveness in skin types V-VI.
• Only transient mild erythema was reported, indicating a favorable safety profile.

Conclusions:

• The combined RF/IPL home-use device achieves long-term, persistent hair reduction.
• The synergistic effect of RF and optical energies enables effective low-energy application.
• The treatment is well-tolerated across all skin types and anatomical regions.