Wavelength and IPL Technologies
Philip L. Bailin, M.D., F.A.C.P. Chairman, Department of Dermatology
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Clinical
Paper
No. 1
Introduction
Light-based hair removal systems continue to
grow in popularity. With the promise of never
having to shave again, a plethora of companies
and devices, including lasers and broad-spectrum
light devices, are attempting to satisfy this growing
demand for permanent hair reduction.
Laser or light-based hair removal is based upon
the principles of selective photothermolysis—which
states that the light energy must be well absorbed by
the targeted chromophore for efficacy and less well
absorbed by competing chromophore(s) to prevent
collateral thermal damage. In the case of hair
reduction, the targeted chromophore is perifollicular
melanin and the competing chromophore is
epidermal melanin.
Lasers are single wavelength devices with absorption
coefficients relatively specific to the chromophores
they are intended to target. Intense Pulsed-light (IPL)
devices expose the patient to a broader spectrum of
light energy defined by cut-off filters, typically in the
range of 600-1200 nm. The fact that lasers and
IPL devices may target multiple chromophores allow
these products to be marketed as being capable
of treating a variety of conditions in addition to
hair removal, including treatment of vascular and
pigmented lesions, warts, wrinkles, and even acne.
Customer demand is also fueling this marketing
approach, as every laser purchaser wants one
device that “does it all.”
Since no two lasers or IPL devices have identical
operating parameters (i.e., wavelength, fluence,
pulse duration, spot size, or epidermal cooling
methodologies), the performance levels of these
products differ substantially.
In particular, the comparative results of lasers
and IPL devices vary greatly in hair removal. The
purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast
the efficacy, ease-of-use, and patient satisfaction
using two different technologies to provide permanent
hair reduction—a single wavelength alexandrite
(755 nm) laser and an IPL broad-spectrum light
device with cut-off filters.
Method
Patient #1 – The patient (J.H.) was a 24-yearold
Arabic female. She complained of excess
dark terminal hair on both cheeks, as well as on
the nape of her neck. Previous treatments had
included waxing and bleaching. Her skin type
was Fitzpatrick IV. She routinely used broad-spectrum
sun blocks. Her skin pigmentation in the areas of
excess hair growth was uniform and even without any
blotchiness. She had no history of abnormal scarring
or excessive response to mild trauma

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