Does IPL Technology or Diode Technology Work Better for Laser Hair Removal Treatment?
With a large amount of ways becoming available to remove your hair it could be challenging to know each different treatments advantages, downfalls, and differences. Laser hair removal is still one of the highest sought procedures aesthetic wise and the largest sized market in aesthetics. Light based and laser devices can prevent and reduce future hair growth, but its efficacy depends on the technology that is used. This article explores different laser hair removal methods and lets you determine which is best for your practice.
First You Should Understand Some of the Terminology.
Laser hair technologylaser hair removal
There are Fundamentally two Types of Technology for this Specific Procedure, IPL (Intense Pulse Light), and Methods that are Laser-Based.
Laser hair removal uses one single wavelength, while IPL treatments use a broad spectrum of light energies. Visible light spectrum is around 400-700nm, while infrared is around 700-1400nm. IPL devices generate light from 400-1200nm and most of these devices have more filters that can constrain light a little more than just these parameters. Short wavelength (400-500nm) can be used to treat fair and red hair color more effectively and long wavelength (500nm+) can be used to target darker hair tones and skin.
Patients always have recognized IPL treatments that use a broad spectrum as more versatile because of these filters. This versatility however is the reason IPL based treatments usually fall short. Treatments that use IPL have a bigger impact on skin due to more melanin and hemoglobin absorption. IPL is effective in fair hair types but usually not when treating any skin types that are darker. Practitioners should practically never recommend IPL treatments for patients with more melanin-rich skin. These devices are less accommodating than a diode counterpart. Using actual lasers such as 810nm diode allows practitioners to safely treat all hair colors and skin types. The MeDioStar machine has FDA clearance to be used on all skin types and has parameters preset and protocols loaded in its system for effective, safe and easy use in treatments. The specific diode in MeDioStar emits a 810nm as primary action and 940nm as secondary, both wavelengths targeting different aspects of follicles to prevent future hair growth. The primary wavelength (810nm) is used to target the chromophore melanin which is highly concentrated in the hair’s shaft. Light energy travels down the shaft to the follicle and papilla with minimal impact on skin tissue. The heat follicle’s absorption and heat distribution is confined further by a specific program and catered pulse format. The second 940nm wavelength sets apart the MeDioStar from other laser hair removal lasers. 940nm uses a smaller and reduced peak type absorption in the hemoglobin chromophore. Hemoglobin is found in the hair’s papilla, the large bulb found at the base of the follicle containing essential nutrients and blood supply for the growth of hair. It allows extra thermal reaction in the deep vessel and prevents future growth with different action than 810nm. Practitioners sometimes request a separate handpiece of 940nm for specialization in vascular treatments including targeting hemangioma, telangiectasia, or other possible vascular conditions.
Different methods offer different benefits and advantages, however laser hair diode hair removal is proven to be fastest, safest, and most effective in removing hair with patients of any hair color and skin tone combination. Using diode lasers such as MeDioStar continues to outpace other methods for removal such as Electrology, IPL, Alexandrite, and any other system in terms of speed of treatment and safety of application for all skin types.
