| LASERS AND LIGHTS | ARTICLE periods of 1 and 2 years. Four of the seven who were
evaluated had persistent hair-loss. Biopsy specimens from these subjects showed a reduction in the number of terminal hairs and an increase in the number of vellus hairs, but there was no evidence of fibrosis or hair follicle destruction. The conclusions were that the normal mode ruby laser could promote long-term hair removal, and this paved the way for future evaluations. Other investigators began looking at the long pulsed
ruby laser system and found very encouraging results in hair removal. Lask et al9
, as well as Williams et al10
that there was an approximate 30% reduction in hair counts with the ruby laser. Sommer et al11
used multiple treatments and found that
they could achieve upwards of 60% hair reduction with the long-pulsed ruby laser. Ruby lasers ® lasers that were used for dark
hairs on light skin ® have virtually come and gone; none are currently available for laser hair removal. However, they were the first and paved the way for future development and applications.
, noted
variable-pulsed alexandrite laser, hair reductions of 40Ð 56% could be achieved at 6 months after a single treatment. Goldberg and Ahkami13
and Nanni and Alster14
showed
similar effects and a very safe adverse event profile. Many alexandrite laser systems have also come and
Ruby lasers ® lasers that
were used for dark hairs on light skin ® have virtually come and gone; none are currently
gone from the marketplace, and those that do remain have had improvements made. The two most commonly used alexandrite laser systems in todayÕs market are the Apogee Elite and Elite MPX (Cynosure), and the GentleLASE and new GentleLASE PRO from (SyneronÐ Candela). The Apogee from Cynosure is a 755 nm alexandrite laser that uses a pulse duration of 5–40 milliseconds and fluences of up to 50 J/cm2
. It uses a special external cold air device
Alexandrite lasers Alexandrite laser systems use a wavelength of 755 nm and thus penetrate deeper into the skin than ruby lasers. They are also less absorbed than the ruby lasers in epidermal melanin; therefore, they are safer on more skin types, with many recommending their use on all skin types. However, the general rule of training is that most alexandrite lasers are effective on Fitzpatrick skin types I–IV. Clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of the
long-pulsed alexandrite lasers in laser hair removal for many years. McDaniel et al12
showed that with a
available for laser hair removal. However, they were the first and paved the way for future development and applications.
showed its usefulness in the clinical setting15
that is incorporated into its handpiece, providing appropriate epidermal protection. The Apogee Elite is a newer laser system that allows the user to choose between alexandrite laser energy or 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser energy in one laser system. And the Elite MPX delivers both wavelengths during the laser pulse, allowing for decreased fluences to be used; therefore, it is safer for patients and can be used in this mode on all skin types. A report by Khoury et al .
The GentleLASE and GentleLASE PRO, a faster model
than the original, are also standards in the alexandrite laser family that have been around for many years, mainly because they work. The GentleLASE uses a 3 millisecond pulse duration, 8–18 mm spot sizes, and fluences of 10–100 J/cm2
. In addition, Candela invented
the dynamic cooling device (DCD), a standard in epidermal cooling. The new GentleLASE Pro, even faster than its predecessor, with a variable pulse duration, is
Figure 4 Clinical example of hair removal using the GentleLASE PRO. (A) before and (B) after treatment
Figure 5 Clinical example of hair removal using GentleLASE PRO. (A) before and (B) after treatment
prime-journal.com | March 2012 ❚ 63
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