Which is the best type of laser to use for Laser Hair Removal?
Alexandrite, Ruby, Diode, and Yag all seem to be used, but is one of them better than the others?
Answers from doctors (2)
It depends upon complexion. If someone has a fair complexion, shorter wavelength lasers can (and should) be used: This is he Ruby (694nm), Diode (805nm) and Alexandrite (755nm). The method by which the skin is simultaneously cooled as laser treatment is administered varies: Contact cooling with a sapphire-tip interface is (in my opinion) the most effective and efficient (and safest) type of cooling. Most Diode lasers cool the skin with a sapphire-tip maintained at 5 degrees centigrade.
If someone has a darker complexion, these shorter wavelengths lasers can overheat the outermost layers of skin due to absorption of melanin so the Yag (1064nm) laser should be used. This longer wavelength laser is less efficient than shorter wavelength lasers and will require more treatments (if administered to a fair complexion) but is the only safe option for darker complexions.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
We have found that there are three very viable lasers for permanent hair removal - the Diode, the Alexandrite and the Yag (Nd:Yg). In our practice we use the Lumenis Lightsheer (Diode) for skin types I - IV, this is Caucasian through olive skin types. Included in this group are Middle Easterners, East Asians, Asians and Hispanics. So for all of these skin types and lighter we use the most common laser hair removal
device in the world - the Lumenis Lightsheer.
For skin types darker which is primarily African American, we use the Nd:Yg laser (our brand is the Sciton Profile). The alexandrite is generally better on very light skinned patients (not used often for darker skin because of safety issues) and the Ruby laser is not common enough to even find. Stay away from IPL machines as they are not lasers
and will not lead to permanent hair removal.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
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