Ruby Laser Hair Removal

Ruby lasers tend to be ideal for people who have light-colored skin and dark hair because the laser it emits is highly absorbed by the skin's melanin.

It has a shorter wavelength when compared to newer laser technologies so it uses more energy in order to properly penetrate the skin to effectively treat the hair.

A Ruby laser works by emitting a pulse of light from a handheld device that is held up against the area of skin to be treated. Once the pulse has been delivered, the practitioner moves to the next area of skin and the process is repeated until the entire area has been covered.

Since it's an older technology, there are other newer laser hair removal options that are becoming more readily available than the Ruby laser and that might be more effective, too.

Here are some things to think about if you're considering the Ruby hair removal laser option.

Ruby Laser: Benefits

• Offers good results for people with light skin and dark hair
• Tends to offer long term hair removal
• Works well on small areas
• Hair that grows back tends to be finer and sparser and therefore less noticeable

Ruby Laser: Considerations

• Tends to be expensive and requires multiple treatments
• Tends to have difficulty successfully treating darker skin types
• Can only cover a relatively small area of hair at a time
• Has a slow repetition rate (ie. every two seconds) which increases the treatment time involved
• Side effects could include scars, burns, skin discoloration, redness and swelling
• Like other lasers, doesn't work with light or white hair

Still, the Ruby laser has a long track record that generally shows that it can offer long-term hair reduction when operated by a skilled and trained professional. The amount of pain felt by the patient tends to vary on a case by case basis.

Long term success and possible side effects of the hair removal will also vary by patient.