BACKGROUND: Generally, axillary hyperhidrosis (AH) is treated with antiperspirant agents, botulinum toxin, or local surgery. The effect of laser treatment on sweat secretion in patients with AH has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of diode laser epilation on the sweat rate of patients with AH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a randomized half-side controlled trial. Twenty-one patients were treated with 5 cycles of an 800-nm diode laser. Sweat rates were documented using gravimetry and a visual analogue scale. Histologic examination was performed in all patients before and after treatment. RESULTS: A significant reduction in sweat rate was observed on the laser-treated (median 89 mg/min, range 42-208 mg/min vs 48 mg/min, range 17-119 mg/min; p < .001) and the untreated contralateral (median 78 mg/min, range 25-220 mg/min vs median 65 mg/min, range 24-399 mg/min; p = .04) sides, although no significant difference was found between the treated and untreated sides (p = .10). CONCLUSION: Although we observed a significant decrease in sweat rate on laser-treated sites, laser epilation was not able to reduce the sweat rate significantly more than on the untreated contralateral side. These results probably indicate a placebo effect rather than a direct therapeutic effect of laser epilation.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Generally, axillary hyperhidrosis (AH) is treated with antiperspirant agents, botulinum toxin, or local surgery. The effect of laser treatment on sweat secretion in patients with AH has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of diode laser epilation on the sweat rate of patients with AH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a randomized half-side controlled trial. Twenty-one patients were treated with 5 cycles of an 800-nm diode laser. Sweat rates were documented using gravimetry and a visual analogue scale. Histologic examination was performed in all patients before and after treatment. RESULTS: A significant reduction in sweat rate was observed on the laser-treated (median 89 mg/min, range 42-208 mg/min vs 48 mg/min, range 17-119 mg/min; p < .001) and the untreated contralateral (median 78 mg/min, range 25-220 mg/min vs median 65 mg/min, range 24-399 mg/min; p = .04) sides, although no significant difference was found between the treated and untreated sides (p = .10). CONCLUSION: Although we observed a significant decrease in sweat rate on laser-treated sites, laser epilation was not able to reduce the sweat rate significantly more than on the untreated contralateral side. These results probably indicate a placebo effect rather than a direct therapeutic effect of laser epilation.
Authors: Jessica Cervantes; Marina Perper; Ariel E Eber; Raymond M Fertig; John P Tsatalis; Keyvan Nouri Journal: Lasers Med Sci Date: 2018-01-11 Impact factor: 3.161