Laser hair removal methods use concentrated beams of light to damage individual hair follicles so that they can't produce new hairs. The results are not always permanent, advises the Mayo Clinic, and multiple sessions, in addition to periodic maintenance, may be required to see long-term results. Writing for LaserHairRemovalReview.com, Dr. Harvey H. Jay, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell Medical School and a board certified dermatologist, lists five types of laser hair removal methods.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy uses laser machines such as EpiLight, Quantum, Aculight, PhotoDerm or Vasculight, although EpiLight is designed specifically for hair removal. The others were originally intended to treat skin conditions such as rosacea. EpiLight was approved by the FDA for use as a hair removal method in 1997. Dr. Jay states that this type of laser hair removal can treat all skin types, ranging from white to black. IPL delivers laser pulses in the 515 to 1,200nm, or nanometer, wavelength range (1nm = one-billionth of a meter); in general, higher wavelength lasers produce better results.
Diode Laser
The machines used for the diode laser hair removal include Light Sheer, F1 Diode, SLP 1000, MeDioStar, Epistar, LaserLite and Apex 800. A diode laser's wavelengths are between 800 and 810nm. This form of laser hair removal has been on the market since 2001, and is also effective for all skin types.
Nd: Yag
The machines that use this method--Medlite IV, Varia, Lyra, CoolGlide and Image--deliver pulses of light in the 800 to 1,064nm wavelength range. Dr. Jay states that, though effective for all skin types, there is no sufficient evidence that this type of laser hair removal works over the long term, and that some patients undergoing this treatment experienced complete hair re-growth within six months of the procedure.
Ruby
The Ruby method uses shorter wavelengths than the aforementioned methods, at about 694nm. The machines used to generate and deliver these laser beams include the Palomar E2000 and the RubyStar. Dr. Jay notes that this method produces frequent side effects such as changes in pigmentation--either lightening or darkening of the skin--and does not recommend this type of laser hair removal for people with darker skin.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite machines--Apogee, GentleLASE and EpiTouch Plus--use laser beams in the 755nm wavelength range. This laser hair removal method is very similar to the Ruby method, and Dr. Jay advises that it is appropriate for only very white skin, as other skin types can become lighter or darker after these treatments.
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