Hair Removal Laser Types | Comparison and Types of Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair treatment has grown popular since a lot has been written and advertised about its efficacy.  Many people are patronizing this procedure especially those who are busy and do not have the time to tweeze or shave unwanted hair. There are some hair removal laser type treatments, and for each method, there are different laser products available. Let’s find out more about these various types:

Types of Laser Hair Removal Systems

• Ruby Laser is the oldest type of hair removal laser.  It works best for fine and light hair. The Ruby Laser is not for patients who have dark skin, including those people with tanned skin. Because of this, Ruby Lasers are less popular for laser hair removal compared to other products.
• Alexandrite Lasers are the fastest of the laser types. They are also good for treating large body areas in patients with light-to-olive complexion. This is one of the most popular and widely used products for laser hair removal.
• Diode Lasers are used on people with dark complexion and are also effective for them. Diode laser is observed to be less effective on finer and lighter body hair. The procedure is able to cover larger and wider areas and show fast repetition rates, allowing brisk treatment of large body areas.
• The long pulse Nd:Yag laser can be used for all types of skin, even those patients who are light-skinned and tanned. Large coverage areas plus fast repetition rates enable one to treat large areas quickly. However, patients who use this laser product report discomfort during treatment. It is also less effective for fine and light hair than other lasers.
• Intense Pulsed Light Devices. This is not a laser but a laser equivalent.  It uses the same principle of selective photothermolysis for effective hair removal. These and similar devices prove to be more difficult to utilize as compared to lasers. IPL devices require a very skilled and experiences technician to operate.

Advantages of Laser Hair Removal

• Consumers who are light-skinned and with dark hair obtain the best results.
• Ideal for useful on large areas such as legs or backs.
• If performed and conducted properly, treatment is considered safe.
• Regrowth can come back either finer in texture or lighter in color.
• Users or patients report permanent hair reduction or long-lasting hair removal. This is one of the permanent hair removal systems in use today.

Disadvantages of Laser Hair Removal

• Because of the numerous variables present, regrowth rates have not been accurately established.
• Can be expensive.
• Careful use must be observed especially by those who tan themselves and those who have darker skin tones.
• Does not prove as effective on gray and blonde or red hair or other unpigmented hair types.
• Improper and incorrect treatment can cause lesions, burns, patchy regrowth, skin discoloration, or a patterned regrowth of hair.
• Inadequate controls are observed to ensure competent practitioners and regulation may vary from one state to another.
• No data has been accurately established as per its safety and effectiveness.
• Other consumers and users do not show positive responses to the treatment.
• Recent data suggest other skin structures are often affected by laser irradiation, and long-term effects of this pose an unknown risk.
• Requires eye protection.
• Response rates have not been established.
• Some find treatment painful.