Laser Hair Removal

Q: Is IPL or a Laser better for Hair Removal?

A: Lasers are best!

Here’s the short answer: A few different types of lasers work well for laser hair removal. IPL is best for removing “brown spots” and “red spots.” IPL is not a laser, and is less effective for hair removal, wrinkle reduction, and collagen building. Want more detail?

Read on.

There are several types of lasers available for laser hair removal. Different laser types, which emit distinct wavelengths of light, are better for treating different skin types. There are several manufacturers that make each laser type.

• Alexandrite lasers emit laser light at 755 nm. Alexandrite lasers work best on lighter skin.
• Diode Lasers. These emit light at a wavelength of 810 nm. This is my choice for laser hair removal. Lighter skin types do well with diode lasers, as well as some darker skin types.
• Nd:YAG lasers. These emit a 1064 nm wavelength. This laser is best for darker skin types, as the higher wavelength reaches deeper into the skin. This helps to avoid superficial skin melanin, which pigments our skin. The problem with Nd:YAG lasers is that many doctors find them less effective for hair removal overall. With well selected settings, however, good results can be seen.
• IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, has been used for hair removal. Lasers emit light at one wavelength. IPL machines produce a range of wavelengths, and are not lasers. So there is no such thing as an “IPL laser” or “IPL laser hair removal”- it’s a marketing term for businesses that have IPL machines and not hair removal lasers. The only exceptions are the few machines out there that have both lasers and IPL machines in them.

Several studies have shown that IPL is not as effective as dedicated hair removal lasers, and carry higher risk of burns, blisters and changes in pigment. I use IPL to improve “brown spots” and “red spots,” which are commonly caused by sun damage. However, I do not use or recommend IPL for hair removal.

Regarding radiofrequency (RF) treatment combined with IPL, I’m not entirely convinced that RF combinedwith any hair removal system is very effective. RF is used by at least one laser manufacturer in a many of their products, and is purported to increase the effectiveness of hair removal, vein removal, cellulite removal, and other cosmetic treatments. When one method of treatment is marketed to improve so many problems, it seems less likely that it is effective with any of the problems it’s marketed to treat.

By the way, this goes for IPL as well- some businesses (and I say “business” because these offices are often owned by businesspeople, and not doctors) tout IPL as the treatment for every problem: hair removal, vein removal, pigment removal, collagen building, anti-wrinkle treatment…is it starting to sound too good to be true?

Remember - laser hair removal is a medical procedure. Always consult with a medical doctor with extensive experience in lasers and laser hair removal. This will maximize your chances of a great result.