Laser hair removal can be an efficient, quick way to quickly get rid of unsightly facial or body hair. But which laser type would best suit your skin type?
Long-pulsed Nd:YAG systems with wavelengths around 1064nm are considered safest for dark-skinned patients due to reduced melanin absorption at this wavelength, enabling higher fluences (power) to effectively damage hair follicles.
Larger Spot Size
Lasers work by absorbing energy from surrounding material and emitting it as heat, causing photodisruption of target cells to break apart and disintegrate, leading to hair reduction or other targets on the skin. This method is noninvasive, leaving no marks or scars behind and has become popular with patients looking to remove patches of unwanted hair on their face or legs.
diode lasers boast larger spot sizes and higher peak power compared to older laser technology, making them suitable for welding applications that require large optical spots and strong peak powers (like cutting or seaming).
Nd:yag lasers can also be utilized in tattoo removal, military dazzler weapons and medical procedures. With low light absorption for melanin absorption and being suitable for most skin colors including darker ones, this laser type offers multiple uses in tattoo removal, military dazzler weapons and medical procedures.
Diode lasers boast a higher percentage of energy conversion and longer wavelength capabilities compared to Nd:yag lasers, providing greater penetration into and flexibility when treating pigmented lesions and vascular lesions. Their higher efficiency also results in less heat being generated – helping reduce cooling requirements while prolonging laser life.
Recent research compared an indocyanine green-augmented diode laser (810nm) and 1064nm Nd:YAG laser in treating small telangiectatic leg veins, finding that both treatments were equally effective, with similar clinical outcomes and comparable safety profiles; only difference being that patients rated the diode laser slightly more painful than its Nd:YAG counterpart.
Although once recommended as the go-to laser treatment option for varicose veins, 1064nm Nd:YAG laser has now become the go-to solution due to its versatility; treating both red and blue vessels easily through adjustments in spot size, pulse duration, and fluence settings.
Faster Treatments
Laser hair removal is a fast and efficient solution for people with coarser, thicker locks. The ND:YAG laser emits two wavelengths of light – one suitable for treating finer strands effectively and another deeper into the skin to reach more terminal follicles for long-term effects. This technology works especially well on people with darker complexions as treatments tend to be faster and more pleasant than with diode technology.
Alexandrite lasers, on the other hand, are great at eliminating unwanted hair in patients with light to tanned skin. Due to their larger spot sizes and cryogen cooling system, these lasers can treat larger areas more efficiently.
Both types of lasers operate by emitting pulses of energy that target melanin, an absorption that heats and damages hair follicles, thus disabling their ability to grow new hairs. Treatment is safe and suitable for all skin types; however, at high fluences discomfort may arise.
As part of choosing the appropriate hair removal option for your skin tone, it’s crucial that you understand how different laser systems operate. Two popular laser options for this are long-pulsed diode (810nm) and ND:YAG (1064nm). These systems combine longer wavelengths, extended pulse durations and active epidermal cooling to reduce risk of epidermal injury in skin phototypes IV-VI.
Laser hair removal systems like diode lasers and YAG lasers can both effectively reduce hair growth while preventing its return. When selecting which option best fits you, take into account both your skin tone and amount of unwanted hair you wish to remove. Diode lasers tend to be less painful than other treatments while darker skin tones might prefer the YAG laser instead; though recent advances in industry mean many machines can now effectively treat both types of hair growth.
Less Painful
Given how laser light penetrates skin and is absorbed by melanin pigmentation, it can effectively target hair follicles without harming surrounding tissue – something particularly valuable for people with darker complexions who run the risk of epidermal injury with other laser treatments such as IPL or sclerotherapy.
Contrariwise, the nd:yag laser light does not reach into deeper skin layers where melanin accumulates; rather it coagulates blood in targeted vascular lesions areas instead. Thus it can be less effective for those with darker complexions.
Diode laser systems designed for people with darker skin tones now use longer wavelengths in order to prevent epidermal damage and enhance efficacy, increasing efficacy while simultaneously protecting epidermis from damage. Long wavelengths enable both Alexandrite (810nm) and Nd:Yag (1064nm) lasers to work safely across phototype IV-VI patients while long pulse durations and epidermal cooling further decrease side effects for even deeper skin tones.
Both the Nd:YAG laser and Alexandrite laser can be effectively utilized to treat small telangiectatic leg veins, with similar results to that achieved through sclerotherapy treatments. A study comparing them found similar success at clearing these superficial veins; however, for maximum comfort it’s essential that both be administered by skilled professionals using machines with high fluence.
Selecting the optimal laser is key to its successful use. A skilled therapist should understand how to select settings tailored specifically to your unique skin type and treatment requirements, including wavelength, fluence and pulse duration settings that achieve maximum effectiveness while minimising discomfort for their clientele.
As a rule, high-frequency Nd:Yag lasers tend to produce more heat than their low-frequency diode counterparts; their higher temperature can cause temporary pain that subsides quickly as the laser warms back to its normal state. With lower frequency systems, however, the heat produced may take longer to dissipate; however, its pain tends to be much more tolerable compared with older Nd:YAG devices and experienced therapists can use them successfully in eight sessions to produce an average 80% hair reduction result.
More Comfortable
Lasers use light energy to heat skin pigment and destroy unwanted hair follicles, yet darker skin’s melanin can disrupt this process. Longer wavelengths provided by ND: YAG technology make it easier for this laser type to penetrate skin layers and destroy hair follicles without harming or altering surrounding tissue or causing any further damage.
Though older diode laser machines can still be painful for those with darker complexions, modern ND: YAG and Alexandrite systems provide less discomfort to users. Furthermore, these new machines are capable of treating several concerns simultaneously by shifting to optional laser wavelengths such as 755nm for Alexandrite lesions or 640nm for vascular lesions.
Another way that modern machines can help to minimize patient discomfort is through integrated cooling devices in their handpiece. For instance, Alexandrite lasers feature dynamic cooling devices which dispense cold gel onto skin before each pulse of light is administered – helping numb it so patients feel less discomfort during treatments and allow for faster completion times than more traditional diode lasers.
ND: YAG lasers also feature built-in cooling systems, but with different methods of operation. Instead of abrading skin layers with energy beams like other lasers would do, this non-ablative laser uses infrared wavelengths to heat underlying layers without harming surrounding tissue – this makes the ND: YAG ideal for treating deeper vascular lesions such as hemangiomas or telangiectasias while simultaneously encouraging neocollagenesis which helps diminish stretch marks or scars both on faces or bodies alike!
To help determine which laser will best meet your needs, it is advisable to speak to a dermatologist experienced with treating clients of various skin types. They will assess what your hair and skin color are before making recommendations about laser treatments that would best meet those needs, including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light). In addition, speaking to specialists can allow you to ask any specific questions and voice any concerns related to laser treatment and related matters.
