CClinicalTrials.gg
TerminatedNCT06179186Updated Aug 27, 2025

Hair Removal: Intense Pulsed Light Versus Diode Laser

An interventional study of Intense Pulsed Light and Diode Laser in Hair Removal, sponsored by University of Nove de Julho. Terminated at 2 sites in Brazil. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-27.

Sponsored by University of Nove de Julho · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
The study was terminated early after interim analysis of 48 participants, which showed significant group differences with 80% power, making further enrollment unnecessary.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
48
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of two hair removal techniques: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Diode Laser in woman underarm. .

Main Questions:

  • Determine the thread count in a 4cm² quadrant in the central axillary region before each session, 4-6 weeks after the last session and at follow-up 30 weeks after the last session;
  • Measure the thickness of the hair before each session, 4-6 weeks after the last session and at follow-up 6 months after the last session;
  • Compare the level of pain during procedures;
  • Evaluate the volunteer's level of satisfaction after the end of the sessions programmed by the study;
  • Evaluate quality of life and self-image before and after the end of the sessions programmed by the study;
  • Evaluate the maintenance of results 6 months after the last procedure performed.

Researchers will compare IPL and Diode laser to see if hair removal is similar at short and long time course.

The IPL treatment will be applied to one axilla. The 800nm Diode Laser treatment will be applied to the other axilla. Treatment allocation will be randomized for each participant. Participants will undergo monthly sessions for four months, totaling four treatments. Follow-up assessments will occur 30 days and 6 months after the final session.

Read the detailed description

This is a randomized controlled trial of hair removal in axilla for women, being intense pulsed light compared to diode laser.

The session frequency will be once a month for 4 months, totaling 4 treatments. There will be a follow-up at 30 days and 6 months after the end of the treatment.

After the evaluations and photographs, the armpits will be cleaned with 0.5% alcoholic chlorhexidine and will be shaved with a disposable razor blade. Neutral water-based gel will be applied to the region to receive the treatment. Patients will be instructed not to perform any trichotomy procedures in the region during the research period.

The treatment technique will be punctual where the applicator will be kept in full contact with the skin at 90° and moved to the next point after deposition of energy over the entire treatment area until the defined energy is delivered. The applicator tip will be cooled as much as the equipment allows.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hair Removal

Keywords

  • hair removal
  • diode laser
  • photoepilation
  • intense pulsed light
  • epilation
  • Depilation
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Nove de Julho is the lead sponsor of 239 studies on the registry; 51 are open to participants now.

Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 1 (13%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Female patients,
  • aged 18 and older,
  • with a complaint of hair in the axillary region,
  • Fitzpatrick skin phototype I to IV,
  • presenting dark hair

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who have used medications that alter hair production,
  • Patients who have used medications that are photosensitizing,
  • Patients who have used isotretinoin or vitamin A-synthesized acids, antibiotics such as tetracycline,
  • Patients using anticoagulant
  • Patients with vitiligo or epilepsy,
  • Pregnant or lactating individuals,
  • those with active herpes,
  • Patient with history of tumors,
  • Patient with axillary scarring (hyper or hypotrophic),
  • Patient who have used another method of hair removal involving complete hair removal by pulling with a minimum period of 30 days from the date of the initial assessment, or have used another laser hair removal method in the treatment area,
  • Immunocompromised patients,
  • Patients with sun-sensitive skin with inflammation,
  • Individuals with psoriasis,
  • Patients with tattoos on the application site,
  • Patients who have undergone ovary removal or have reached menopause
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
48 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Intense Pulsed Light

    The hair from axilla of one side of the body will be removed with 4 sessions of Intense Pulsed Light

    Device: Intense Pulsed Light · Device: Diode Laser

  • Experimental
    Diode laser

    The hair from axilla of one side of the body will be removed with 4 sessions of Diode Laser

    Device: Intense Pulsed Light · Device: Diode Laser

Interventions

  • DeviceIntense Pulsed Light

    The axilla will be treated with intense pulsed light, being right or left, depending upon randomization.

    Also known as: Randomized

  • DeviceDiode Laser

    The axilla will be treated with diode laser, being right or left, depending upon randomization.

    Also known as: Randomized

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Hair count

    The counting of the hairs will be performed by observing the visible hairs in the treatment area photographs of the volunteers. In this way, a percentage comparison will be made in relation to the initial number of hairs. The hair count will be conducted in a 4cm² quadrant in the central axillary region.

    Time frame: before each session (S0,Month1, Month2, Month3), 4-6 weeks after the last session (Month4) and at follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

  2. Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS)

    The photographs will be evaluated by two independent and blind evaluators, making a comparison between the photos before the procedure (S0) and the final effect of the short-term (S4) and long-term (S5) treatment. The evaluations will be classified according to the percentage of change: no results 0% reduction, bad reduction 0% to 25%, average 25% to 50%, good 50% to 75% and excellent 75%-100%.

    Time frame: 4-6 weeks after the last session (Month4) and at follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Hair Thickness

    Images of the demarcated region will be obtained using a dermatoscope (5 images per region per assessment). The hair thickness will be measured using the Image J software (NIH).

    Time frame: before each session (S0,Month1, Month2, Month3), 4-6 weeks after the last session (Month4) and at follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

  2. Pain Score (Visual Analogue Scale)

    Immediately after the end of the procedure in each armpit, the patient will respond using the visual analogue scale (VAS) to the sensation of pain perceived during the procedure. It consists of a straight line, 10 centimeters long, where one end represents the total absence of pain and the other end represents the most intense pain possible. The person experiencing the pain is asked to mark a point on the line that represents the intensity of the pain they are experiencing. The marked point can be measured in centimeters from the end that represents the absence of pain.

    Time frame: before each session (S0,Month1, Month2, Month3), 4-6 weeks after the last session (Month4) and at follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

  3. Quality of Live

    The WHOQOL-bref quality of life questionnaire consists of 26 questions, with responses following a Likert scale (from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating better quality of life) his questionnaire includes 2 questions that assess overall quality of life, while the remaining questions make up 4 domains (physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment).

    Time frame: before first session (S0), and at follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

  4. Satisfaction level Score

    The patient's satisfaction level with the treatment will be assessed through a questionnaire containing five multiple-choice questions. These questions will address the degree of discomfort experienced during the sessions, how many sessions this discomfort persisted, the satisfaction level regarding the achieved results, the perceived percentage improvement in the concern, and, finally, how likely the patient would recommend the undergone treatment to someone with a similar concern. Each response receive 1 up to 5 points, and the total Score varies from 4 to 20, being the highest as the highest the satisfaction.

    Time frame: At follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

  5. Self - Esteem Scale

    The Self - Esteem Rosenberg Scale consists of 10 statements related to self-evaluation and self-acceptance. Respondents must indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement on a response scale that typically ranges from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." The statements are mostly positive and are used to assess the extent to which a person feels positive or negative about themselves.

    Time frame: before first session (S0) and at follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

Other outcomes

  1. Adverse events

    Adverse effects noted during and after treatments will be recorded

    Time frame: before each session (S0,Month1, Month2, Month3), 4-6 weeks after the last session (Month4) and at follow-up 24 weeks after the last session (Month 10).

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • Universidade Nove de Julho
    São Paulo, São Paulo 01.504-001, Brazil
  • Ambulatório Universidade Nove de Julho
    São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Barros RTB, Stella OHAS, Galache TR, Khachikian LC, Liebano RE, Pavani C. Efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light compared to diode Laser for hair removal: a randomized controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2026 Jun 6;41(1):108. doi: 10.1007/s10103-026-04904-6. PubMed 42249955 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 27, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06179186
Lead sponsor
University of Nove de Julho
Responsible party
Christiane Pavani (Clinical Professor, University of Nove de Julho) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 21, 2023
Start date
Nov 30, 2023
Primary completion
Nov 30, 2024
Completion
Nov 30, 2024
Last update
Aug 27, 2025

Study contacts

Christiane Pavani, PhD
study director · University of Nove de Julho

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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