Pulsed alexandrite laser technology for noninvasive hair removal.

ABSTRACT Objective: Determination of the efficacy of pulsed Alexandrite Laser technology for rapid noninvasive hair removal. Summary background data: Although previous studies have already shown that Ruby lasers are capable of noninvasive hair removal, a technology for the substantial increase of treatment speed is of great interest. Methods: We have used a 2 msec free running pulsed Alexandrite (λ = 755 nm) laser operated at a repetition rate of up to 5 pps at energy fluences of 25–40 J/cm2 to treat a wide range of body sites on 126 patients in conjunction with a fiber delivery system and a transparent target ruler. A transparent gel was used as epidermal heat sink. The study lasted 15 months. Pretreatment as well as follow-up hair count per cm2 was performed to determine the level of success. Treatments were repeated when 1–2 mm growth was observed. Results: The average hair count before the second treatment was found to be close to 65% of the pretreatment count. The average hair count 3 months after th...