RESUMO
Background: Hirsutism is the presence of excessive terminal hair on androgen-dependent sites of the body. Lasers like Alexandrite, diode, and Nd:Yag lasers have been used for hair reduction with varying efficacy. Trichoscopy of hair is a simple noninvasive method of hair assessment. However, it has not been used in the assessment of diode laser hair reduction. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of diode laser hair reduction in skin color with the help of clinical and trichoscopic assessment. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study included 73 patients of hirsutism recruited in 18-month period. All participants received sessions of 805 nm diode laser at monthly intervals up to six sessions. Clinical and trichoscopic evaluation along with photographs were obtained at each visit. Side effects, if any, were noted in every sitting. Results: All patients were females of Fitzpatrick skin types III-V. All clinical parameters showed statistically significant hair reduction when compared with baseline. Trichoscopic parameters of hair reduction like total hair count, terminal hair count, and terminal/vellus hair ratio showed reduction compared to baseline which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The most common side effect noted in our study was pain followed by erythema and perifollicular edema. Conclusions: Diode laser is an effective and safe procedure for the reduction of unwanted facial hair, even in darker skin types. We also wish to emphasize that trichoscopy for the assessment of laser hair reduction is a recent, noninvasive, simple, and underutilized tool. No serious adverse events were noted in our study.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Literature on psychosocial impact, financial burden, and worry in hirsute females with facial hair is limited. OBJECTIVE: To assess psychosocial impact and financial burden, worry among females with hirsutism. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, questionnaire based observational study, 50 females with hirsutism having facial hair were interviewed and provided with questionnaires examining the psychosocial impact and financial burden. Psychosocial impact in participants was assessed by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire, and the financial burden was evaluated using a composite financial burden score. Self-reported financial worry was also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 50 completed DLQI surveys and financial burden surveys were taken for analysis. The mean DLQI of 50 hirsute females was 15.98 ± 5.79. The mean value of financial burden score was 0.98 ± 1.45, and financial worry was 1.5 ± 0.90. There were 16% of total hirsute females who commonly used trimming/ shaving and Laser therapy as a treatment modality followed by 12% females who did not use any treatment modality for their facial hair. There were 10% females who used waxing and followed by 6% who used a combination of waxing, trimming, and bleaching for managing facial hair. The financial burden impact of laser therapy was significant (p = 0.013) among all treatment modalities. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that hirsutism poses a very large effect or psychosocial impact on hirsute females with a significant financial burden with laser therapy as compared to other treatment modalities.
