What types of lasers are used for hair removal?
Behind Botox therapy, laser hair removal is the next most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the United States. Lasers target the dark melanin pigment in skin and hair, leaving the skin cool and destroying the hair follicle with a small amount of heat. After a series of treatments, most skin has reduced hair production. There are several kinds of lasers in common use for hair removal, and one laser equivalent called IpL, Intense Pulsed Light. Each type of laser has a specific wavelength, but the duration and speed of light pulses vary by trade name. One of the oldest types of lasers is the Ruby. At 694 nm (nanometers, or one billionth of a meter) it is visible to the naked eye as a reddish light. It is especially indicated for light skin and fine, blond or red hair. Some brand names of Ruby lasers include: RubyStar, E2000, Epitouch and Epilaser. The Alexandrite laser is one of the most popular for hair removal. It has a reddish light at 755 nm and is one of the fastest lasers f
