{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T02:47:56Z","timestamp":1782355676828,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782345600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782345600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Lasers Med Sci"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Purpose: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating skin disease often requiring multimodal therapy. Laser hair removal (LHR) is an emerging treatment option, yet patient-centered data is limited. This study aimed to assess patient perspectives on the effectiveness, safety, motivations, and barriers associated with LHR for HS. Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was administered via REDCap (July\u2013December 2024) to adults with HS living in the United States. Respondents reported prior treatments, LHR parameters, outcomes, adverse effects, and barriers. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Of 110 participants who completed the survey (110\/132, 83%), 24 (22%) had used LHR and comprised the analytic cohort, with a median of 8 LHR sessions (IQR 6\u201312). Leading motivations included reducing inflammation (92%), relieving pain (75%), and seeking durable treatment (71%). Highest median improvements (score 4, IQR 4\u20135) were in lumps\/abscesses, swelling, and flare frequency. Other symptoms, including pain, odor, and quality of life, also showed moderate improvement. Half reported benefits lasting over 12 months. While biologics were perceived as most effective (median 4.5, IQR 3.5\u20135), LHR received one of the highest median scores among non-biologic options (3.5, IQR 3\u20135). Barriers included cost, insurance limitations, and low awareness; 63% paid over $1,000, and 38% discontinued early. Common adverse effects included discomfort (71%) and transient erythema (46%). Conclusion: Most patients perceived LHR as beneficial for HS, but affordability and awareness remain barriers. Findings highlight the need for payer advocacy and additional trials defining LHR\u2019s role in HS management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s10103-026-04893-6","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T02:29:52Z","timestamp":1782354592000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Patient-reported outcomes of laser hair removal for hidradenitis suppurativa: an exploratory cross-sectional survey"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"41","author":[{"given":"Leandro","family":"Bosch","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lynna","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kelsey Shannon","family":"Flood","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julia Mhlaba","family":"Riley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"4893_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1045","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2019.08.090","volume":"82","author":"SR Goldburg","year":"2020","unstructured":"Goldburg SR, Strober BE, Payette MJ (2020) Hidradenitis suppurativa. J Am Acad Dermatol 82:1045\u20131058. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jaad.2019.08.090","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"4893_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.16677","volume":"35","author":"TV Nguyen","year":"2021","unstructured":"Nguyen TV, Damiani G, Orenstein LAV et al (2021) Hidradenitis suppurativa: an update on epidemiology, phenotypes, diagnosis, pathogenesis, comorbidities and quality of life. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 35:50\u201361. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jdv.16677","journal-title":"J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol"},{"key":"4893_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1150","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaci.2022.02.003","volume":"149","author":"KR Van Straalen","year":"2022","unstructured":"Van Straalen KR, Prens EP, Gudjonsson JE (2022) Insights into hidradenitis suppurativa. J Allergy Clin Immunol 149:1150\u20131161. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jaci.2022.02.003","journal-title":"J Allergy Clin Immunol"},{"key":"4893_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2019.02.067","volume":"81","author":"A Alikhan","year":"2019","unstructured":"Alikhan A, Sayed C, Alavi A et al (2019) North American clinical management guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa: A publication from the United States and Canadian Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundations. J Am Acad Dermatol 81:76\u201390. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jaad.2019.02.067","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"4893_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1007\/s40265-015-0516-5","volume":"76","author":"IE Deckers","year":"2016","unstructured":"Deckers IE, Prens EP (2016) An update on medical treatment options for hidradenitis suppurativa. Drugs 76:215\u2013229. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40265-015-0516-5","journal-title":"Drugs"},{"key":"4893_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"637","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2009.07.048","volume":"62","author":"BH Mahmoud","year":"2010","unstructured":"Mahmoud BH, Tierney E, Hexsel CL et al (2010) Prospective controlled clinical and histopathologic study of hidradenitis suppurativa treated with the long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser. J Am Acad Dermatol 62:637\u2013645. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jaad.2009.07.048","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"4893_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"999","DOI":"10.1111\/bjd.19556","volume":"183","author":"K Wolk","year":"2020","unstructured":"Wolk K, Join-Lambert O, Sabat R (2020) Aetiology and pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa. Br J Dermatol 183:999\u20131010. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/bjd.19556","journal-title":"Br J Dermatol"},{"key":"4893_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"576","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clindermatol.2023.08.021","volume":"41","author":"B Jastrz\u0105b","year":"2023","unstructured":"Jastrz\u0105b B, Szepietowski JC, Matusiak \u0141 (2023) Hidradenitis suppurativa and follicular occlusion syndrome: Where is the pathogenetic link? Clin Dermatol 41:576\u2013583. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.clindermatol.2023.08.021","journal-title":"Clin Dermatol"},{"key":"4893_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.12788\/j.sder.2017.017","volume":"36","author":"L Hoffman","year":"2017","unstructured":"Hoffman L, Ghias M, Lowes M (2017) Pathophysiology of hidradenitis suppurativa. Semin Cutan Med Surg 36:47\u201354. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12788\/j.sder.2017.017","journal-title":"Semin Cutan Med Surg"},{"key":"4893_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1002\/lsm.23796","volume":"56","author":"WD Shipman","year":"2024","unstructured":"Shipman WD, Williams MN, Suozzi KC et al (2024) Efficacy of laser hair removal in hidradenitis suppurativa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Surg Med 56:425\u2013436. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/lsm.23796","journal-title":"Lasers Surg Med"},{"key":"4893_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1001\/jamadermatol.2023.5425","volume":"160","author":"N Salame","year":"2024","unstructured":"Salame N, Sow YN, Siira MR et al (2024) Factors affecting treatment selection among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. 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JAMA Surg 155:970. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamasurg.2020.2611","journal-title":"JAMA Surg"},{"key":"4893_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1061","DOI":"10.1111\/ddg.14796","volume":"20","author":"A Tsentemeidou","year":"2022","unstructured":"Tsentemeidou A, Sotiriou E, Ioannides D, Vakirlis E (2022) Hidradenitis suppurativa-related expenditure, a call for awareness: systematic review of literature. JDDG J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 20:1061\u20131072. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ddg.14796","journal-title":"JDDG J Dtsch Dermatol Ges"}],"container-title":["Lasers in Medical Science"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s10103-026-04893-6.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s10103-026-04893-6","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s10103-026-04893-6.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T02:29:52Z","timestamp":1782354592000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s10103-026-04893-6"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]]},"references-count":16,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["4893"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10103-026-04893-6","relation":{},"ISSN":["1435-604X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1435-604X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]]},"assertion":[{"value":"16 March 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"11 May 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"25 June 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"This study was reviewed and deemed exempt from further review by the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board (STU00221901), as it involved minimal risk and no identifiable private information. All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval"}},{"value":"All participants provided informed consent electronically prior to survey completion.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":5,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}},{"value":"Not Applicable","order":6,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Clinical trial number"}}],"article-number":"131"}}