A randomized double blind, vehicle controlled bilateral comparison study of the efficacy and safety of finasteride 0.5% solution in combination with intense pulsed light in the treatment of facial hirsutism*

Abstract

Objective: We sought to determine whether topical finasteride can enhance the efficacy of intense pulsed light hair removal. Materials and methods: An intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment with radiofrequency (RF) was performed every four weeks, resulting in up to three sessions, and again at the end of the study – 6 months after the start of the experiment. Each patient also applied either finasteride or placebo solution twice daily to each side of the chin in a double-blinded manner. Results: A total of 77 patients were included in the study. Mean hair density before treatment in finasteride side of the patient's chin was 19.7 ± 11.7 and in placebo side was 19.1 ± 11.3. After three sessions of IPL + RF treatment, combined with twice daily application of finasteride and placebo solutions, at the end of 6-month period mean hair density of 8 ± 6.3 and 9 ± 5.6 was achieved in finasteride and placebo side respectively. Statistically significant difference was found between finasteride and placebo solution. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that the addition of finasteride solution to IPL + RF hair removal may result in a more reduction of unwanted facial hair in women when the combination is used for up to 6 months.

Key Words::

• finasteride
• hirsutism
• hair removal
• intense pulsed light
• radiofrequency

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Dr Shafie for preparing the finasteride 0.5% and placebo solutions.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.