INTRODUCTION
Current in-office laser and light-based hair removal devices effectively provide a long-term solution for unwanted hair removal.1 These in-office systems generally use high energies to deliver effective long-term hair reduction. Clinical studies have reported significant hair reduction at low radiant exposures customized for home-use.2 Permanent hair reduction over legs of skin types I-IV, following diode laser treatment with a home-use device, has been reported in the literature.3 Significant hair reduction at 6-months follow-up after treatment of unwanted body and facial hair of skin types I–III4 and after treatment of non-facial sites of skin types I–IV5,6 with intense pulsed light (IPL) home-use systems has also been demonstrated. In a short-term home hair removal study, a home hair removal device, integrating optical (IPL) energy with bipolar radio frequency (RF) energy, has been shown to be effective and safe for the removal of body hair in all skin types (I-VI).7 The current study examines an IPL-RF home-use device to achieve safe, long-term hair reduction of both facial and body hair in all skin types. In a previous study, subjects performed seven weekly treatments with the IPL-RF home-use device and underwent hair counts at one and three months after the seventh treatment.7 In this study, the patients were exposed to as many as 12 additional monthly maintenance treatments after completing seven treatments and then evaluated up to 12 months after completing their extended therapy. In addition, we studied facial areas for safety and efficacy using the device in a separate accelerated treatment protocol which also was evaluated 12 months after completion of all therapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Subjects
Subjects were from 18–65 years of age and have naturally brown or black hair. All skin types were eligible for enrollment. Both facial and non-facial areas were treated. Exclusion criteria
Subjects were from 18–65 years of age and have naturally brown or black hair. All skin types were eligible for enrollment. Both facial and non-facial areas were treated. Exclusion criteria