There are currently four types of lasers in use for hair removal: the Ruby, the Alexandrite, the Diode and the Nd: YAG. IPL treatment often comes under the same umbrella, but it is not technically a laser. We will however include IPL treatment in our overview of the different laser types below.
Overview of the Different Types of Lasers Available
Ruby Laser
Alexandrite Laser
Pulsed diode array (Near-Infrared)
Nd: YAG (Near-Infrared)
Intense pulsed light
Conclusion
Sources
All of the current laser types have been proven to be more or less effective depending on skin type, hair type and area treated, and some are more prone to side effects than others.
Our aim with this overview is to provide a clear outline as to the details of each laser type and who they are effective for, based on different clinical studies listed below.
Ruby Laser
The Ruby laser is the most established laser of the list as it was the first to be approved for laser hair removal and has a proven rate of efficacy for hair removal. It is now being bypassed by the other, newer and more sophisticated laser types that are proving to be more effective on a wider array of subjects.
Specifications
- Wavelength: 694 nm
- Repetition rate: 0.5 – 1.2 Hz
- Spot size: 3-10 mm
- Pulse width: 0.85-3 ms
The Ruby works best on pale skin, no higher than II on the Fitzpatrick scale, and dark hair and has not proven to be effective on lighter hairs (blond, red or grey). It is also not advised to use the Ruby laser on darker skin due to the danger of scarring or long-term pigmentation issues.
The Ruby laser contains one huge advantage over others in that it contains a built-in cooling system which minimizes the risk of burning or other side effects, as well as reducing the stinging heat and pain often felt during laser treatment.
In addition to the cooling effect, the two second delay between each laser pulse really makes treatment with the Ruby into the least painful laser hair removal on the market.
However, the Ruby has a slower repetition rate than other types and has quite a small treatment area capacity. This means that most subjects will require more treatments to see long-term results than with some of the other laser types available.
While the Ruby has proven to have great long-term results on subjects with pale skin and dark hair ere are better laser treatments available these days.
Alexandrite Laser
The Alexandrite laser has a higher repetition rate than other lasers and a larger spot size capacity, so it’s an excellent choice for covering larger areas rapidly. It has also proven to have an excellent penetration rate, so the real benefit with the Alexandrite is that it can be used for large areas effectively without the need for more than average amount of treatments.
Specifications
- Wavelength: 755 nm
- Repetition rate: up to 5 Hz
- Spot size: 6-16mm
- Pulse Width: 5-140 ms
It has also been proven to be quite effective on thinner hairs than other lasers, which makes it a great choice for areas where hair isn’t too coarse. The downside to the rapidity of the penetration rate is that this can cause the treatment to be more painful than the Ruby laser for example.
The laser has also been known to cause some pigmentation changes on darker skin and is therefore only best used on skin types I-III. It is currently recommended up to IV, and but is often less effective than it is when used on pale skin.
The Alexandrite is therefore best used on dark hair and pale skin, and is an excellent choice when aiming to treat a larger area of the body.
Nd: YAG (Near-Infrared)
This is the newest laser type on the market and was specifically developed to be safe and efficient on tanned and darker skin types. The Nd: YAG has been cleared for use on all skin types, I-IV, and has been proven effective in reducing hair growth in all types, at least for the short term.
Due to how new this laser type is there are not any long-term efficacy studies available yet. With its deep penetration rate compared to other lasers, the Nd: YAG protects a darkly pigmented epidermis by bypassing it and going straight for the hair follicle.
While there is still a risk of burning and scarring, with the Nd: YAG the risks are the same for all skin types. Another advantage of the Nd: YAG is that it can be adjusted to a more shallow penetration rate (532 nm) to attack the lighter hairs nearer the surface of the skin, although this has not yet been proven to be highly effective yet.
It has not been proven to be effective on light hairs (blond, red or grey). As with the Diode laser type, the Nd: YAG’s higher frequency and penetration rate can make for a more painful treatment, although most patients admit that it is still tolerable.
The Nd: YAG is the most efficient and safest option for darker skin types.
Conclusion
There is now a laser type that is suitable for all types of skin color in terms of safety and efficacy. While it is important to do one’s research before undertaking any type of treatment, it is also important to discuss how effective each type of laser may be on your skin and hair types with your physician, to determine the best options for your case.
