Comparison of the efficacy and safety of three different depilatory methods.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Three methods of electrical energy-based depilation were compared for safety and efficacy.

METHODS: Ten volunteers had one treatment with each device followed by weekly observations up to 9 weeks. The protocol used was basically that of the International Guild of Professional Electrologists, which is used to define "permanent" hair removal.

RESULTS: Radio frequency tweezers, direct current tweezers and needle based electrolysis all demonstrated statistically significant reductions in hair counts after 9 weeks of 60.3%, 65.8% and 55.9%, respectively. The differences between the treatments were not statistically significant. However, large differences in side effects and pain scores existed. Both tweezer type epilators induced pain rated at 13/100 on a visual analogue scale while the needle based depilator induced significant pain at 59/100. Furthermore, acute inflammation and late scarring was seen only following treatment with the electrolysis needle.

CONCLUSION: The tweezer-type epilators are as effective as needle-based electrolysis but without the pain and side effects of the latter.