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Abstract
Background: Facial hirsutism is a common cosmetic and psychological concern among women, often resulting from hormonal imbalance or idiopathic causes. Objective: To compare the efficacy of long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser and IPL therapy in the treatment of facial hirsutism among female patients. Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Gujranwala Medical College Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala, from 18th January, 2025 to 18th July, 2025. A total of 60 female patients aged 18–50 years with clinically diagnosed facial hirsutism were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling and randomly divided into two groups using the lottery method. Group A received treatment with long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm), while Group B underwent IPL therapy (755 nm). Each patient received multiple sessions over 12 weeks.
Results: The mean age of participants was 28.9 ± 6.0 years. Excellent response was achieved in 27 patients (90.0%) in the Nd:YAG group compared to 5 patients (16.7%) in the IPL group (p < 0.001). Mild, transient erythema and edema were the most common side effects, resolving spontaneously in both groups. No cases of scarring, blistering, or persistent pigmentation were reported. Conclusion: It is concluded that long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser is significantly more effective than intense pulsed light for the treatment of facial hirsutism. It achieves superior hair reduction, higher patient satisfaction, and minimal adverse effects. Given its deeper follicular penetration in darker skin tones, Nd:YAG laser should be considered the preferred modality for managing facial hirsutism.