Home Hair Removal in All Skin Types with a Combined Radiofrequency and Optical Energy Source Device

Background Home hair removal devices are available for skin types I to IV. Side effects may limit hair removal in darker‐pigmented individuals. Objective To evaluate a home hair removal device using combined radiofrequency (RF) and intense pulsed light (IPL) energy for effectiveness and safety with all skin types (I–VI). Design Two study designs: effectiveness (treating 94 bilateral patient areas weekly seven times, with one side then receiving three additional treatments at 4‐week intervals) and safety (37 patient areas treated every 2–4 days for three sessions). Measurements Hairs were counted 3 months after treatment for the first design and 2 months after for the second. Results In the first study design, 55% hair count reduction was achieved1 month after seven treatments to all sites. The side with no further sessions had 43% hair reduction and the side receiving ongoing treatment had 58% reduction after two further treatments. Side effects were transient and minor. In the second study, with 46% of the patients having skin types V/VI, 2 months after the procedure there was 44% hair reduction. There were no adverse effects reported. Conclusion For the first time, a home hair removal device has been shown to be effective and safe in all skin types using a low‐energy RF–IPL device.