Alexandrite Laser technology uses the selective photothermolysis approach, meaning that a timed pulse of an energy-filled laser beam channels through the surface of the skin to the the targeted treatment area. The laser is converted to heat energy in order to dissolve the unwanted skin cells or hair follicle.
The long-pulse Alexandrite Laser has the ability of deep penetration into the dermis. The resultant heat build-up in the hair shafts disables the hair follicles in the active growth phase which enables it to achieve effective laser hair removal.The laser is tunable, so its power can be adjusted based on the condition being treated. The alexandrite uses a shorter wavelength than other laser types, enabling the alexandrite to be more rapidly and intensely absorbed by melanin and the follicles of fine hairs.
Hair Removal: Laser treatment has shifted hair removal from lasers, tweezers, and electrolysis to destroying the hair with energy beams. The alexandrite is most popularly known for its use in hair removal treatments, and is the most widely used laser technology for this purpose. The alexandrite is especially effective on fine and light hair, since the laser energy is so easily absorbed by the melanin pigment in hair. For thicker and darker hair, settings are adjusted for optimal performance. An entire back can be treated for hair removal in only 30 minutes.
Tattoo Removal: Its precision and ability to absorb melanin so easily has made the alexandrite an effective solution for tattoo removal. The lasers are able to substantially lighten and/or remove tattoo ink with a low risk of scarring, particularly for light-skinned patients. Green and black inks are especially easy to remove, since the base laser color ranges from red to yellow. The precision and ability to pass through the skin layers to get straight to the ink enables the correction to leave little to no damage to the surrounding skin tissue.
Specifications: Wavelength: 755 Pulse width: 2-20 Fluence: 10-40 Spot size: 5-10 Repetition rate: 1-5
Devices available: Three different alexandrite lasers are available:Apogee-40 (Cynosure), EpiTouch Alex (formerly ESC Sharplan, now Lumenis.) GentleLASE (Candela)
Disadvantages: Hair removal is short term. Occurrence of side effects in 2% of dark colored patients treated with Alexandrite lasers.
