The Efficacy of Laser-Assisted Hair Removal in the Treatment of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae: A Pilot Study
September 2012
in “
European Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Laser hair removal significantly improves acne keloidalis nuchae, especially with early treatment.
This pilot study assessed the efficacy of long pulsed Nd-YAG laser-assisted hair removal in treating acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) in 16 patients. Each patient received 5 laser sessions, with assessments conducted at the third and fifth sessions, and 1 year after. Significant improvement was observed in all patients, with early cases showing higher improvement rates compared to late cases. Biopsies taken before and 2 weeks after the fifth session revealed a significant decrease in inflammatory infiltrate and sclerosis, with most cases showing a complete absence of hair follicles and adenexa. The study concluded that laser hair depilation could significantly improve AKN, especially when treatment is started early and followed by maintenance sessions.