Laser Hair Removal and Laser Types

Hair removal practitioners use a variety of lasers for laser hair removal treatment.

Types of laser hair removal devices on the market today:

· Photoepilators – No published medical data on its effectiveness exists. The original Omicron PhotoEpilator was taken off the market in 1972, but variations returned including:
§ D'Plume by Carol Block
§ Photoepilator by Omicron
§ ThermaLight by Jennifer Maxx
· Flash Lamps – Flash lamp technology, also known as IPL (intense pulsed light), ILS (intense light source), full spectrum, non-coherent and broadband light are used:
§ DeLight by Radiancy
§ SpaTouch by Radiancy
§ EsteLux by Palomar
§ EpiLight by ESC
§ IPL Quantum HR by ESC
§ MultiLight – PhotoDerm by ESC
§ PhotoDerm by ESC
§ VascuLight Plus - PhotoDerm by ESC
· Nd:YAG - This laser hair removal treatment is sometimes used along with a carbon-based lotion. One study showed a 27% to 66% reduction at 3 months after one treatment. Others show a 39% to 50% reduction. Laser hair removal devices include:
§ Athos by Cosmos
§ CoolGlide by Altus
§ Depilase by Depilase
§ Lyra by Laserscope
§ Lorad by Focus Medical
§ MedLite by Contiuum
§ VascuLight Plus - PhotoDerm by ESC
· Argon – Normally used for ingrown eyelashes. No studies exist for hair removal. Laser hair removal devices include:
§ Lasetron by Lasetron
· Alexandrite – Researchers observed an average 75% reduction for dark hair and 10% for light hair after three months. Another study noted 81% to 95% reduction at three months after three to five treatments. Laser hair removal devices include:
§ Apogee [6200 & 9300] by Cynosure
§ EpiTouch Alex by ESC
§ GentleLASE by Candela
§ LaseAway by Silver Creek Medical
§ PhotoGenica LPIR by Cynosure
§ SmoothLASE by Leisegang
· Ruby - Have the best published documentation of results. Studies with short-term follow-up have observed 20% to 60% reduction at three months. Laser hair removal devices include:
§ Chromos 694 by Mehl/Biophile
§ E2000 by Palomar
§ EpiLaser by Palomar
§ EpiPulse by ESC
§ EpiTouch Ruby by ESC
§ LaseAway by Polytec PI/Lambda
§ MLT R694 by MLT Int'l
§ RubyStar by Asclepion-Meditec
· Diode - Considered the most promising of lasers for hair removal. A short-term study observed 34% hair reduction at three months. A longer study observed between 53% and 34% reduction at three months and 20 months. Laser hair removal devices include:
§ Apex 800 by IRIDEX
§ Depilase by Depilase
§ EpiStar by Nidek
§ LightSheer [SC, EC, XC, SP & EP] by Coherent Star
§ MeDioStar by Asclepion-Meditec
§ SLP 1000 by Palomar
§ StarLight by Coherent Star