Laser and intense pulsed light hair removal technologies: from professional to home use

TY - JOUR

T1 - Laser and intense pulsed light hair removal technologies

T2 - from professional to home use

AU - Haedersdal, M

AU - Beerwerth, F

AU - Nash, J F

N1 - © 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.

PY - 2011/12

Y1 - 2011/12

N2 - Light-based hair removal (LHR) is one of the fastest growing, nonsurgical aesthetic cosmetic procedures in the United States and Europe. A variety of light sources including lasers, e.g. alexandrite laser (755 nm), pulsed diode lasers (800, 810 nm), Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) and broad-spectrum intense pulsed light (IPL, 590-1200 nm), are available and used widely for such procedures in dermatological/clinical settings under proper supervision. Patient selection and appropriate fluence settings are managed by professionals to maximize efficacy while minimizing adverse events. In the past 5 years, LHR devices have been sold directly to consumers for treatment in the home. In this review, we outline the principles underlying laser and IPL technologies and undertake an evidence-based assessment of the short- and long-term efficacy of the different devices available to the practising dermatologist and discuss the efficacy and human safety implications of home-use devices.

AB - Light-based hair removal (LHR) is one of the fastest growing, nonsurgical aesthetic cosmetic procedures in the United States and Europe. A variety of light sources including lasers, e.g. alexandrite laser (755 nm), pulsed diode lasers (800, 810 nm), Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) and broad-spectrum intense pulsed light (IPL, 590-1200 nm), are available and used widely for such procedures in dermatological/clinical settings under proper supervision. Patient selection and appropriate fluence settings are managed by professionals to maximize efficacy while minimizing adverse events. In the past 5 years, LHR devices have been sold directly to consumers for treatment in the home. In this review, we outline the principles underlying laser and IPL technologies and undertake an evidence-based assessment of the short- and long-term efficacy of the different devices available to the practising dermatologist and discuss the efficacy and human safety implications of home-use devices.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10736.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10736.x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0007-0963

VL - 165 Suppl 3

SP - 31

EP - 36

JO - British Journal of Dermatology

JF - British Journal of Dermatology

ER -