There are a multitude of lasers available to treat a range of skin and medical concerns. At City Laser Clinic, we use three medical graded lasers to treat skin concerns – Fraxis CO2 Laser, Medlite Q-Switched Laser, and Candela Alexandrite Laser. We have chosen these devices not only because they are the best available on the market, but because they allow us to cater to the majority of skin concerns and skin types.
You’ve probably heard of the Alexandrite laser as it is one of the most popular lasers used for laser hair removal. However, the alexandrite laser is not only beneficial for hair removal. It can also be used for sun damage removal, beauty mark removal, keratosis pilaris reduction, broken capillary removal, and rejuvenation treatments.
How does it work?
The alexandrite laser beam is produced by an alexandrite crystal. Specifically, a 755nm long-pulsed beam is produced as the laser passes the crystal. This 755nm beam of laser is then attracted to any dark pigment – whether it be dark hair, pigmentation, or blood vessels. At City Laser Clinic, our qualified staff specialise in using the Alexandrite laser for the purpose of hair removal, keratosis pilaris (KP) reduction, and pigmentation removal.
Alexandrite Laser & Laser Hair Removal
Regarding laser hair removal, the alexandrite laser beam travels down the hair shaft until it reaches the hair follicle. The laser then damages the hair follicle that is responsible for hair production. At first, this damage causes the hair to grow back finer than it previously was. However, with enough treatments, the follicles will eventually be destroyed leading to no hair growth at all.
Alexandrite Laser & Keratosis Pilaris Reduction
The Alexandrite laser works on Keratosis Pilaris (KP) reduction in an identical way to laser hair removal. In short, KP is a build up of keratin blocked beneath the skin. Keratin is also what your hair is made up of. Therefore, whilst you often do not have much hair growth in areas where KP is commonly present, the alexandrite can still benefit your KP by breaking down the keratin build up beneath the skin.
Please note that this only reduces the bumps caused by KP. Once your bumps have reduced, we then treat any discoloration caused by KP with our Q-Switched laser.
Alexandrite Laser & Pigmentation Removal
Pigmentation refers to brown spots that form on your skin, generally after prolonged sun exposure. Whilst we generally opt for our Q-Switched or CO2 laser for pigmentation removal, in some cases we will use our alexandrite laser. The machine choice for your specific pigmentation will depend on your pigment and skin type. However we will generally opt for the alexandrite laser for freckles or beauty marks on light (skin type 1, 2, and sometimes 3) skin types.
This is because, as mentioned previously, the laser is attracted to any dark pigment. Unfortunately this also means that it can pick up on your natural skin pigment if you are a skin type 3 or darker.
However if you are a skin type 1-2, there is no risk to this treatment and can provide a faster result than with other laser technologies. It works by picking up on any dark pigmentation and causing a superficial burn. The pigmentation spots will then transform into a scab, which then falls off within 2 weeks, leaving clear pigment-free skin beneath!
Benefits of the Alexandrite Laser
Whilst the alexandrite laser is not suitable for everyone, it is extremely beneficial for those who are. If you are an ideal candidate for the alexandrite laser, it can provide results in a limited number of treatments.
| Treatment Type | Total Treatments Required | Effectiveness | Downtime | Intervals |
| Freckle Removal | 1-2 treatments | 80-100% removal | 1-2 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Beauty Mark Removal | 1-2 treatments | 100% removal | 1-2 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Laser Hair Removal – Women’s Brazilian & Underarm | 9-12 treatments | 80-100% removal | 0-48 hours | Starting at 4-6 weeks |
| Laser Hair Removal – Women’s Body (excluding Brazilian & Underarm) | 6-9 treatments | 80-90% reduction | 0-48 hours | Starting at 4-6 weeks |
| Laser Hair Removal – Face (men & women) | 20+ treatments | 80% reduction | 0-48 hours | Starting at 2 weeks |
| Laser Hair Removal – Men’s Body | 10-15 treatments | 80-90% reduction | 0-48 hours | Starting at 4-6 weeks |
Please note that for laser hair removal, you may need more treatments if your sessions aren’t done consecutively. Hormonal conditions or hormonal medication (such as the contraceptive pill) can also slow the process.
In addition to fast results, the Candela alexandrite laser also allows us to customise treatments and provide a faster service. With the Candela GentleLase, we can adjust the gauge of the laser as well as the settings and amount of cryogen exerted. These factors are adjusted for your unique skin and hair types as well as the area being treated. Through our experience and the flexibility of the device, we can guarantee a safe and effective treatment with minimal discomfort.
The treatment gauge is what is used on your skin during the treatment. It distances the laser at the best proximity to achieve the most effective results for the treatment that you are receiving.
Limits to Alexandrite Laser
At City Laser Clinic, our therapists are fully qualified and trained in performing safe and effective laser treatments. To ensure a safe treatment, we typically recommend alternative treatments for darker skin types to avoid adverse reactions. This is because the laser is attracted to any dark pigment (colour) and cannot distinguish between the pigment in your hair and skin.
We can safely remove hair on skin types 1-4 using the alexandrite laser, however we can only remove pigmentation on skin types 1 & 2 with this laser. For darker skin types (skin 3 & 4), we recommend the Medlite Q-Switched ND:Yag laser as a safer alternative and may require you to prep the skin 1-2 weeks prior to commencing.
Is Alexandrite right for me?
As with all laser and advanced aesthetic treatments, we advise having an initial consultation with one of our experienced skin therapists. During the consultation, we will be able to thoroughly assess your concerns as well as your hair, skin, and pigmentation type. We can then advise which treatment is most suitable for you, explain the treatment process, and answer any questions that you may have. To schedule your consultation, please click here.
In conjunction to checking our machines daily, they are also regularly serviced by their manufacturers to ensure treatment safety at all times. We’d like to think that it’s because of this, we have never had an adverse event with any of our laser hair removal or pigmentation machines.
