Laser hair removal employs light-based technology to target melanin pigment present in hair follicles. Melanin absorbs more efficiently by laser wavelengths than any other substance in the follicle, leading to its destruction via thermal energy production – effectively stopping future hair growth.
Different laser wavelengths are tailored for specific skin tones; ruby wavelength is best suited for light colored, thin hair while alexandrite wavelength works better on darker tones (Fitzpatrick scale III-VI).
694nm / Ruby laser / Apogee elite
Laser hair removal is a minimally invasive treatment that works by dissolving hair follicles to prevent future growth, making this an efficient alternative to shaving or waxing. While understanding how the procedure works can help make an informed decision as to whether this approach may suit you, it’s essential that prior to beginning, you understand exactly how it operates so that an informed decision can be made as to if or when laser treatment will be appropriate for you.
Ruby, Alexandrite, Nd:YAG and Diode lasers are among the most frequently employed for hair removal. Initially developed in 1960 as one of these devices, its effectiveness was limited due to its extremely high intensity setting that could damage dark-skinned patients and lead to hypopigmentation – or loss of natural pigment from their skin – when used alone.
This type of laser uses short wavelengths to target melanin found in hair follicles and absorb light energy to heat it up, damaging follicles and stopping new hair production. Please be aware that ruby laser is not appropriate for people with tanned skin or deep facial hair.
Alexandrite lasers use longer wavelengths to target melanin in hair follicles. This method has proven more effective than ruby lasers with reduced risk of skin damage, plus their deeper penetration makes them suitable for olive toned and darker skin patients alike.
Nd:YAG laser hair removal technology is one of the newest devices introduced for hair removal. Safe for most skin tones, its intended use lies with vein removal on legs and face as well as thread veins and acne.
Recent laser technology has outshone ruby, alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers due to high-power diode lasers – they are far less costly, more efficient and longer-lived; plus they can fire Alexandrite and Nd:YAG wavelengths at variable proportions for optimal treatment results.
755nm / Alexandrite laser / Apogee elite
Lasers are used to destroy hair follicles responsible for producing unwanted hair growth, providing a permanent solution without being painful or costly. Energy from the laser is converted to heat which then disables and inhibits future production by disabling follicles that once produced hair.
The type of laser chosen depends on both skin type and hair color. Different wavelengths penetrate at various rates, enabling safe treatment to take place. Spot size, pulse width and fluence of laser are also crucial elements; generally speaking, larger spot sizes deposit more energy per pulse, thus increasing effectiveness while decreasing frequency of required sessions.
Alexandrite lasers emit wavelengths of 755nm and penetrate deeper than ruby lasers into skin layers, making them suitable for darker phototypes up to phototype IV. Their wavelength has proven particularly successful at targeting melanin pigment and eliminating hair follicles while their high affinity with hemoglobin also allows them to treat facial and leg veins more effectively.
Similar to alexandrite lasers, 1064nm/Nd:YAG lasers offer safe and effective treatments for most phototypes; however, its lower penetration depth and stronger attraction to haemoglobin make it particularly suitable for treating pigmented lesions and leg veins.
Diode lasers have made impressive strides over the last two decades and are now considered among the best ways of hair removal on all skin types, even darker ones. Their technology enables them to be tuned for all wavelengths within their therapeutic window for long term results without increasing risks or discomfort.
Lumenis Apogee Elite is a dual wavelength laser which incorporates both alexandrite and nd:YAG wavelengths for optimal versatility. By offering multiple wavelengths in one device, this device greatly increases client throughput, leading to more productive practices with more profitable practices and increased client throughput rates. Furthermore, using two separate wavelengths simultaneously reduces discolouration risk associated with single wavelength lasers on darker skin types as well as hypopigmentation risks associated with single wavelength lasers alone.
1064nm / Nd:YAG laser / Gemini laser
Laser hair removal works by selectively heating melanin in order to prevent new hair growth. The theory behind this process, called selective photothermolysis, states that in order to cause effective thermal damage with minimal collateral tissue damage it requires that the laser wavelength matches that of its chromophore while its pulse duration must also fall below its thermal relaxation time, which measures how quickly skin recovers following each laser pulse.
At first, hair removal lasers utilized short pulse durations that were ideal for treating light hair and dark skin, however complications increased significantly as melanin in darker skin competed for energy from the laser, leading to more melanin being damaged than hair follicles – leading to post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation and eventually longer pulse durations being developed – providing safer laser treatments for darker skin types.
Diode lasers were utilized for this task, as they provide high-energy pulses while still meeting safety levels comparable to ruby and alexandrite lasers. Furthermore, diode lasers have become more sophisticated over time to treat all Fitzpatrick skin types including Asian and Afro-Caribbean (Fitzpatrick scale III-VI) for which other systems cannot safely operate.
The Laserscope Gemini is a dual wavelength system that allows practitioners to switch between KTP (532nm) and Nd:YAG (1064nm), in long-pulsed mode rather than nanosecond Q-switched mode, for versatile treatment purposes like lesion removal, skin tightening, and hair removal. Furthermore, multiple patients can be treated simultaneously during one treatment session reducing treatment time while increasing clinic efficiency – making this machine one of the most sought-after laser hair removal machines available on the market today.
1064nm / Nd:YAG laser / Apogee elite
Lasers work by selectively heating dark target materials such as melanin without significantly warming nearby skin or water, enabling heat to reach darker bases of hair follicles for photothermolysis (this process). 1064nm ND:YAG lasers offer advantages because they’re safe for darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin tone 5 or 6).
This wavelength targets the blood supply to hair follicles, damaging it to prevent them from regrowing hair. Furthermore, the YAG laser stimulates new collagen production for improved skin tightness and texture.
The 1064nm/Nd:YAG laser provides an additional safe option for people with olive or darker skin tones due to its lower attraction for melanin in their skin. When used for laser hair removal, this treatment penetrates 4-5mm deep into skin layers to target blood supply for hair follicles and stop future growth – but more than one treatment session will likely be necessary as hair follicles undergo cycles of anagen, catagen, and resting phases over time.
Spot size and fluence of lasers play an integral role in their effectiveness against various skin types. A larger spot size will allow more energy per pulse to be delivered directly onto a specific area of skin for faster, safer treatments; and at higher fluences they reach optimal temperatures within hair follicles to cause them to stop producing new hair growth.
Triple wavelength lasers like the 3D Trilogyice combine these advantages by employing shorter pulse duration, sparing epidermis while still delivering enough thermal energy to the dermal layer of follicle. This combination creates even follicle destruction and is capable of treating nonresponsive hair that single or dual wavelength lasers cannot treat, ultimately providing the optimal laser hair removal treatment solution for all skin types. To find out which wavelengths would work best for you, it’s wise to schedule an appointment with an aesthetician for consultation to determine which would best suit you personally.
