Adjuvant eflornithine to maintain IPL-induced hair reduction in women with facial hirsutism: a randomized controlled trial.

Background Photoepilation is the treatment of choice for hair removal in patients with hirsutism, but it remains a challenge to prevent regrowth of hairs. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate whether topical eflornithine maintains hair reduction in hirsute patients after cessation of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. Methods A randomized, split-face, single-blinded controlled trial on topical eflornithine vs. no eflornithine treatment (control) after 5–6 IPL-treatments in 22 women with facial hirsutism. Application of eflornithine was initiated after the final IPL-treatment (baseline) and applied twice daily for 6 months to half of the face. Patients were assessed at baseline and 1, 3 and 6 months after the final IPL-treatment. The primary endpoint was difference in facial hair counts between eflornithine vs. no treatment. Secondary endpoints were patient-evaluated efficacy, patient satisfaction and safety. Results A total of 18 patients completed the study protocol. At 1 month after final IPL-treatment, eflornithine reduced hair regrowth by 14% (P = 0.007, n = 20 patients), at 3 months by 9% (P = 0.107, n = 19) and at 6 months by 17% (P = 0.048, n = 18) compared to no treatment. Patient-evaluated efficacy supported blinded hair counts and patients were satisfied with eflornithine treatment throughout the study (median VAS 5–6). Eflornithine was generally well tolerated, but blinded evaluation demonstrated deterioration of acne in two patients at final assessment. Conclusion Topical eflornithine provides a self-administered treatment with a potential to maintain IPL-induced hair reduction in hirsute patients.