Several types of lasers are in common use for hair removal. Different lasers are suitable for different skin and hair colors. Patients with dark skin or light hair are more challenging to treat because laser treatment targets pigment in the hair shaft. If there is not much pigment in the hair, or if there is a great deal of pigment in the surrounding skin, the laser energy may be absorbed into the skin, causing pain, burning and discoloration. If you are considering laser hair removal, you should choose a physician who has experience with--and proper technology for--your particular skin and hair type.
Diode
Compared with other lasers, particularly the alexandrite or ruby systems, diode systems produce a relatively long wavelength of light, meaning they penetrate more deeply into the skin. This helps them avoid hitting melanin cells in the skin and makes them more suitable for darker-skinned patients. Among the diode systems on the market are the MeDioStar, LaserLite, Epistar, SLP 1000, F1 Diode, Light Sheer and Apex 800 lasers.
Nd: Yag
Nd: Yag systems can treat all skin colors. Their disadvantages compared to other types of lasers, according to Dr. Harvey Jay, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell Medical School, is that they are relatively painful and that the results do not tend to be as lasting, with hair growing back over the course of six months. Available Nd: Yag systems include Athos, Lyra, Image, Medlite IV, CoolGlide and Varia.
Alexandrite
This laser type, with its relatively short wavelength, is suitable for removing hair only in patients with very light skin, according to Jay. Patients with darker skin, he says, are likely to suffer pigmentation changes--lightening or darkening of the skin--if treated with an alexandrite laser. Among alexandrite laser brand names are EpiTouch Plus, GentleLASE and Apogee.
Ruby
The ruby laser, with brand names including Palomar E2000 and RubyStar, has a wavelength only slightly shorter than that of the alexandrite laser--694 nm for the ruby compared with 755 nm for the alexandrite. For that reason, its uses and results are similar to those of the alexandrite. It is best suited to patients with light skin and can cause pigmentation changes in darker-skinned patients. It can cause moderate pain.
Pulsed Light/Ultimate Light
These systems go by names such as PhotoDerm, EpiLight, PhotoDerm, Aculight, Quantum and Vasculight. People with hair and skin of any color can get good results with this technology, except for those with white hair, according to Jay. Jay also believes the treatment is less painful than other laser treatments. He says that with this method he has never used pain medication or local anesthesia. In his practice, he says patients generally experience a 50 percent hair reduction after one or two sessions. In these patients, hair removal with this technology has shown long-term success--four years or more, Jay says.
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