Cairo, Egypt: A combination of hormonal treatment with laser hair removal (LHR) is better than metformin and LHR combo for achieving a significant improvement in QOL in PCOS patients with hirsutism, finds a recent study. The study is published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Hirsutism affects about 10% to 20% of females, resulting in significant psychological damage and social embarrassment. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major cause of hirsutism. Nevine Dorgham, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, and colleagues aimed to assess the impact of adding combined oral contraceptives (COCs) or metformin to laser hair removal on the quality of life of PCOS patients with hirsutism.
The study included 150 PCOS patients diagnosed with hirsutism. Patients were randomized to three groups -- group 1 received laser hair removal alone, group 2 received metformin and laser hair removal, and group 3 received COCs and laser hair removal.
A diode laser with a wavelength of 810 nm was used for hair removal in all patients according to a protocol of 6 monthly sessions followed by another two sessions after three and six months. Patients were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and a customized questionnaire (Hirsutism Life Quality Index; HLQI).
Key findings of the study include:
All patients showed a significant improvement in both quality indices (DLQI and HLQI) after treatment relative to pretreatment.
Group 3 showed significantly better improvements when compared with group 2 and group 1.
At three and six months, group 3 showed non-significantly better DLQI and HLQI as compared with at zero months.
Group 2 patients displayed significant worsening of both DLQI and HLQI scores at three months, with subsequent improvements again at six.
Group 1 patients showed nonsignificant worsening at three months, and significant worsening at 6 months.
"Combining hormonal treatment with laser hair removal can achieve greater hair reduction, significant improvements in patients' QOL, and better maintenance as compared with when combining metformin with laser hair removal or conducting alone," wrote the authors.
Reference:
The study titled, "Adding Combined Oral Contraceptives or Metformin to Laser Treatment in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Hirsute Patients," is published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
DOI: https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961621P0302X