Laser- and IPL-Assisted Hair Reduction

Laser hair reduction functions based on the extended theory of selective photothermolysis. Hair follicles in anagen are most susceptible to the thermal damage that leads to the reduction of hairs. A wide range of laser and other energy-based device systems have been employed, either singly or in combination, for hair removal. These include the long-pulsed ruby laser (694 nm), alexandrite laser (755 nm), diode laser (810 nm), and neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1064 nm), as well as intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. Pain, erythema, and perifollicular oedema are commonly experienced by patients immediately after the procedure. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, lasting up to months, may also result, especially in darker skin phototypes. The use of longer wavelengths and pulse durations, coupled with appropriate cooling measures, can help to enhance the safety profile of laser hair reduction.