The Best of Both Worlds

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 23rd February 2011

Different skin shades and skin concerns demand different lasers to treat them. We explain what these laser wavelengths can achieve and why the next generation of machines now successfully combine more than one laser wavelength. Lisa Whiting, registered nurse at the Aspire Medical Group, praises the Elite MPX from Cynosure

The Alexandrite laser

✷ Developed for the military, it was cleared for hair removal by the FDA in 1997.

✷ It works using selective photothermolysis – this means that laser energy is absorbed in the hair follicle. Heat builds up in the hair shafts and disables the active growth of the hair.

✷ Alexandrite works on a shorter wavelength than other lasers and is highly absorbed by melanin so can deliver more energy to lighter finer hairs.

✷ It can also be absorbed by skin melanin, which, as Lisa explains, is why now is such a good time to plan your laser hair removal treatment: "Patients are advised that fair skin should not be tanned prior to treatment and that strong sun exposure should be avoided for two weeks following a treatment."

✷ The laser’s large spot size means it’s very fast and covers large areas in one session.

✷ The Alexandrite laser is suitable for fairer skin. “I’m actually half-Indian myself," says Lisa, "and use the Alexandrite laser, but I’m at the very end of the spectrum. Darker skin tones would be treated with the Nd:YAG laser. That's the great thing about the Elite – any skin tone can now be treated.”

The Nd:YAG Laser

✷ The high-powered Nd:YAG produces the safest wavelength for hair reduction on darker skin types. “It is often hard to treat darker skin tones without the risk of causing hyperpigmentation,” says Lisa, “but the Elite can produce fantastic results whatever your skin type.”

✷ The laser emits an intense beam of light which passes safely through the skin layers to the underlying strata. Hair follicles are then eliminated without harming the skin.

✷ The Elite MPX contains a built-in skin cooling system to increase patient comfort: “My patients have said that it’s more comfortable than waxing,” claims Lisa. “The machine cools the skin before, during and after the procedure to lessen any discomfort.”

✷ It is also the wavelength of choice for treatment of facial and leg veins—the most common form of vascular lesions. The Nd:YAG laser sends energy into the blood and vessel walls, which causes complete or partial collapse of the vessel. The visible vein then disappears from the surface of the skin.

✷ Lisa has seen the Elite MPX achieve fantastic results: “For the superficial thread veins, patients are seeing immediate and lasting benefits.”