Eradication of hairy mouth after oncological resection of the tongue and floor mouth using a diode laser 808 nm. Postoperative pain assessment using thermal infrared imaging

Objectives: Vascularized soft tissue flaps are often harvested from hair-bearing areas, such as the radial forearm or anterolateral thigh, making their use in oral reconstruction problematic due to postoperative hair growth. The presence of intact hair follicles in free tissue transfer and continued hair growth at the recipient site can result in difficulties with oral hygiene, intraoral irritation, food trapping, and patient distress. This study was to evaluate the intraoral efficacy and safety of a diode laser 808 nm when used for hair removal. Materials and Methods: Sixteen male patients, between 2010 and 2017, were referred for intraoral hair eradication with a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue or floor mouth resection. An 808 nm diode laser (Stark 808, Plume s.r.l., Rome, Italy) was used to remove the intraoral hair. Each patient received a total of six treatments at 4-week intervals. Perifollicular pain was quantified by the physician using visual analog scales. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 1, 4, and 6 days to check the state of the tissues. The recall program included assessments of VAS, erythema, and perifollicular temperature. Patients were followed up for long-term assessments at 6 and 12 months after the final treatment session. Results: All patients presented well with no occurrence of symptoms, indicating possible perifollicular inflammation. Based on the VAS scores, very mild discomfort during laser irradiation was recorded in all patients, with average pain score of 10.98 ± 1.42. No pain or discomfort was recorded 1, 4, and 6 days after the procedure. After the third pulse of light was applied, the average temperature with standard deviation of the hair tip with both the dark and light skin was 74.4 ± 11.7°C. The difference in temperature before the procedure (basal measurement 37.5 ± 2.8°C) and immediately after laser irradiation was 36.9 ± 3.7°C. The difference in temperature disappeared after 0.29 seconds, and no temperature increase was recorded on days 1, 4, or 6. In all the patients, the hair clearance between baseline and the 6th treatment, the 6-month follow-up, and the 12-month follow-up rated as significant P < 0.05. The mean percentage of hair reduction was 97.3% at 12 months. Conclusion: In conclusion, the clinical findings demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the 808 nm diode laser system for intraoral hair removal Lasers Surg. Med. 51:516–521, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.