diodinis lazeris sapphire smartepi

The Alexandrite laser is often praised, but you can’t rely solely on rumors to choose a laser for hair removal. We want to advise both professionals who are still considering which laser to choose and customers who would like to understand which is better for them. We will briefly describe the advantages and disadvantages of Diode and Alexandrite lasers.

How does Alexandrite laser differ from a Diode laser in terms of efficiency and pain sensation during treatment? These are the most common questions.

To understand exactly how the Alexandrite and Diode laser works, it is necessary to get acquainted with the theory of selective photothermolysis… But who cares about boring theory? After all, it will not change your decision! It is enough to understand that the laser beam destroys the “targets” in the skin – the hair follicles, without damaging the surrounding tissues. The laser beam reaches the target because of a certain wavelength. The wavelength of the Alexandrite laser is 755 nm, and that of the Diode is as high as 980 nm.

The Alexandrite laser uses a mineral called alexandrite. It is a mixture of chrysoberyl and chromium. These minerals are grown artificially.

Diode lasers do not contain minerals. They consist of two layers of semiconductor material joined together. The active substance is gallium arsenide.

The basic price of a laser is determined by its materials and method of manufacture. The more expensive its technological production, the more expensive the laser.

This means that the price of an Alexandrite laser is always and will be higher than a Diode laser!

How does wavelength affect efficiency?

The longer the wavelength, the deeper the light beam penetrates the tissue. This means that the target of the Diode laser is melanin and hemoglobin, while Alexandrite works only on melanin. The depth of hair growth is different. Some hair grows superficially, others grow deep. This means that not all hairs will be removed by the Alexandrite laser.

The Diode laser is more effective for less pigmented hair and does not depend on the skin phototype: it can be used for any of the six types. Its wave penetrates deeper and removes hairs that have not even appeared on the surface of the skin. Although the hair is not yet visible to the client, the laser reaches it and removes it.

The Alexandrite laser wave does not reach hairs in deeper skin layers, and it is the most effective only for 1-2 skin phototypes. It can even cause burns if used on 3-6 skin phototypes.