As the popularity of laser hair treatment has grown, so too has the number of laser manufacturers. The market is growing so quickly that the Food and Drug Administration, which approves devices for hair removal, has trouble maintaining an up-to-date list. Nonetheless, you can call the FDA provided you know the manufacturer or device name. Be advised that the FDA does not recommend one laser over another, nor does it provide comparisons for the various lasers on the market.
There are a few methods of laser hair treatment and for each method there are various laser products.
- The Ruby Laser is the oldest type of hair removal laser and works best for fine and light hair. The Ruby Laser cannot be used on patients with darker skin, including people with tanned skin. This and other factors, such as the relatively small area that they cover, have made Ruby lasers increasingly less popular for laser hair removal in recent years.
- The Alexandrite Laser is the fastest of the laser types and is good for treating large body areas in patients with light-to-olive complexion. This is one of the most widely used lasers for hair removal.
- The Diode Laser is most effective for darker skin types and is less effective on lighter, finer hair. It covers large areas and has fast repetition rates, allowing brisk treatment of large body areas.
- The long pulse Nd:Yag laser can be safely used in all skin types, including tanned patients. Large coverage areas and fast repetition rates allow large areas to be treated quickly. That said, patients who use this laser report more discomfort during treatment. It is also less effective for fine and light hair than other lasers.
- Intense Pulsed Light Devices are not lasers, but are “laser equivalents” in the sense that they use the same concept of selective photothermolysis to accomplish hair removal. IPL devices are more difficult to use than lasers and require a very skilled and experiences technician to operate.
