Diode lasers offer longer wavelengths than alexandrite and penetrate more deeply, helping avoid thermal damage to the superficial epidermal layer in dark skin patients.
Diode devices feature a cooling system to cool the skin before laser pulses are delivered for increased comfort, and have proven just as effective in hair removal as alexandrite devices.
Wavelength
Laser hair removal can effectively destroy hair follicles by emitting an intense pulse of heat that damages their pigment. As this heat penetrates skin cells where hair follicles grow from, melanin cells absorb it and become disabled so the follicle cannot produce further hair growth.
Lasers come in various varieties, yet all rely on the same basic principle for operation. One popular type is alexandrite laser, which uses an argon gas laser chamber to generate light that then emits from it; diode lasers offer more modern solutions by not using gas but instead depending on contact cooling of its laser tip to avoid thermal damage.
Diode lasers use wavelengths between 800 and 810nm that is highly effective against dark skin while still reaching deeper layers without absorbing melanin from tanning spots. Most modern diode lasers utilize vacuum systems to list skin before releasing laser pulses for an enhanced treatment experience.
Alexandrite lasers emit a 755nm wavelength, which is slightly shorter than diode lasers but still an effective treatment option for light skin and hair. Because melanin absorbs less of its wavelength, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation issues do not arise as easily with Alexandrite devices due to larger spot sizes delivered via fiber optic arms.
The primary difference between alexandrite and diode lasers lies in how effectively they reduce hair growth. Initial studies indicated that both wavelengths were equally effective at doing this task, producing results which lasted 12 months with stable results from each. Later research, however, indicated that alexandrite was less effective with darker skin tones as originally thought and may even cause permanent thermal damage when used at high power levels; by comparison, diode lasers can be safely utilized at higher power levels without risk to patient safety than alexandrite lasers can.
Power
Diode lasers feature longer wavelengths than alexandrite ones, making it more suitable for penetrating deeper into skin layers and reaching hair follicles more effectively. Furthermore, diode lasers use less energy – making them safer than alexandrite ones which may cause burning on darker skin tones.
Diode lasers’ longer wavelength allows them to remove pigment and hemoglobin more effectively than alexandrite lasers, making them superior at treating hair removal, vascular lesions and pigmentation issues. Furthermore, it can treat more skin types – both dark and light hair types – and thicknesses of skin more effectively.
Diode laser hair removal results are more consistent in the long term compared to alexandrite. A study published in Lasers in Medical Science compared two groups of patients receiving either diode or alexandrite treatments over four sessions two months apart; those in the alexandrite group experienced side effects more frequently and their results were less satisfying.
Alexandrite lasers target melanin, the pigment which absorbs laser energy. Because melanin absorbs laser light so efficiently, Alexandrite lasers are perfect for all skin types and colors; especially lighter skin tones with thinner hair and lighter tones with few freckles or age spots, melasma cafe-au-lait or vascular lesions.
Diode lasers offer more effective melanin targeting thanks to their longer wavelength, being able to reach deep within the dermis where melanosomes reside – this makes it particularly suitable for treating dark skin conditions and other pigmentation issues.
Long-wavelength diode lasers may also help ease pain during laser treatment by targeting melanin in the skin more directly without harming other parts of the body. Furthermore, this helps lower risk for burns or complications to make diode lasers an excellent choice for people with darker skin or coarser hair.
Pain
Diode lasers use longer wavelengths than Alexandrite to penetrate deeper into skin layers to target hair follicles, where light absorption by melanin pigment can destroy future growth while at the same time alleviating any associated discomfort during treatments. Most diode lasers offer advanced cooling systems to make treatments more pleasant.
At Citrine, our revolutionary alexandrite laser hair removal treatments combine state-of-the-art alexandrite technology with revolutionary in motion technology and Sapphire Cooling tips to provide truly pain-free treatments! Our clients find them more tolerable than anything they have experienced previously.
The Alexandrite laser boasts a shorter wavelength than diode lasers, making it better suited to treating darker skin tones and more suitable for patients with skin types I-IV on Fitzpatrick scale. Furthermore, this hair removal laser can even be used on tanned or darkly pigmented skin without risk of burning it!
Recent research comparing the results of Alexandrite laser and diode laser devices found similar treatment results, including significant improvement six to twelve months after initial treatments with both devices. Researchers noted their ability to be used on dark skin without suffering negative side-effects from Nd:Yag lasers.
Though both devices work equally well to treat darker hair and skin tones, some doctors prefer one over the other based on experience. A New York laser expert for instance owns over 50 lasers and utilizes both diode and Alexandrite treatments on his patients; his preference depends on both personal experience and client feedback on which was effective treatment method for them. He strongly believes in obtaining an in-depth medical history report before beginning treatments to ensure safety during treatments. If you have any inquiries about which laser would best fit your individual skin type needs contact an experienced laser provider today!
Safety
Laser hair removal is an effective and relatively safe treatment option to permanently eliminate unwanted hair, with few side effects and few devices working best for specific skin types. A diode laser works better on darker-skinned people while alexandrite devices work best with lighter or whiter skin tones due to differences in wavelength emitted by each device and its absorption by skin tissue.
Alexandrite lasers utilize a short wavelength (around 755nm), which is less absorbed by melanin in the skin and allows more precise targeting of hair follicles. However, this shorter wavelength may also cause thermal damage to surrounding cells which could result in postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin types.
Diode lasers with wavelengths around 810nm can overcome these problems by penetrating deeper into the skin and targeting melanin pigment located within hair follicles directly, thus producing less heat being transmitted to surrounding areas, thus decreasing risk of hyperpigmentation inflammation.
Technology advancements have greatly increased laser safety. Modern devices, like Soprano Ice Platinum, combine two wavelengths into a single pulse to maximize safety and efficacy for all Fitzpatrick skin types, while their built-in dynamic cooling systems spray coolant onto skin surfaces before each laser pulse is administered. This reduces pain and discomfort dramatically while shortening treatment appointment times significantly.
Researchers recently conducted a study published in “Lasers in Medical Science,” where they evaluated both Alexandrite and diode lasers for hair removal on all Fitzpatrick skin tones, concluding that diode laser performed better on darker-skinned patients and avoided complications associated with higher rates of side effects for this population.
As evident from the graphs below, fluence rates for both alexandrite and diode lasers decline rapidly with increasing depth due to melanosomes absorbing laser light at these deeper levels of hair follicles. Diode lasers were superior as they have longer wavelengths with lower absorption rates that allowed safe treatment deep into epidermis and dermis without damaging surrounding tissue.
