5 Types of Lasers Used for hair removal

There are a number of different machines which fall under the broad category of Laser Hair Removal.

1- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Machines: EpiLight, PhotoDerm, Quantum, Aculight, or Vasculight.

The capabilities of each of these machines vary. EpiLight is the most specific and advanced for hair removal. PhotoDerm is the original machine developed for successfully treating facial Rosacea, facial blood vessels, leg veins, and other blood vessels. EpiLight is a specialized improvement of PhotoDerm developed to specifically treat unwanted hair. Ultimate Light™ pulsed light can safely and effectively treat ALL skin types ranging from white to black. In general though IPL devices will have a more painful experience because there is a broad spectrum of light energy delivered to the skin.


2 - The Diode Laser (800nm or 810 nm wavelength)

In my opinion, the Diode laser is the next most useful hair removal light source.

The Diode laser systems include: SLP 1000, F1 Diode, Light Sheer, MeDioStar, LaserLite, Epistar and Apex 800.

The Diode laser's longer wavelength of light thereby penetrates into the hair follicle without causing as much epidermal injury as the Ruby or the. This Diode laser can be used on darker skin colors than the Ruby or Alexandrite.


3 - Nd: Yag (1064 nm wavelength)

The Nd: Yag laser systems include: Gentle Yag, CoolGlide, Medlite IV, Varia, Athos, Lyra, and Image. This is the first of the true lasers.

The Nd: Yag is capable of treating all six skin colors. It can be more painful on lighter skins, but is more effective on darker skins.


4 - Ruby (694 nm wavelength)

The Ruby laser systems include: RubyStar and Palomar E2000.
Learn More About Ruby. Ruby lasers were some of the original lasers for hair removal but the Alexandrite and ND:Yag are far superior.

5 -Alexandrite (755nm wavelength)

The Alexandrite laser systems include: GentleLASE, Apogee, and EpiTouch Plus.

Alexandrite lasers are very effective for fair to mid skin tones, though some manufactures say they will work for very dark skin the ND:Yag is prefered there. For the lighter skin tones with dark hair this is often your best choice and the Candela GentleLASE, which we use, is considered the best hair removal laser available. It is very effective and its patented colling technology makes for the most comfortable experience.