808nm diode laser

Recently, 808nm diode lasers are widely used. This is due to many factors:

1. The low cost of these diode arrays makes them very affordable for a wide number of salons and clinics.
2. A radiation wavelength of 808 nm allows a fairly wide range of procedures to be carried out, as in this spectral region, a large amount of chromophore is well absorbed (melanin, hemoglobin, etc.)

While among the solid-state lasers, the “gold standard” is the Nd: YAG 1064nm neodymium laser, due to its simplicity and wide range of applications, the 808nm diode laser occupies a similar place among diodes.

Of course, taking into account the fact that the spectral and energy characteristics of diode lasers (they are also sometimes called semiconductor) are significantly inferior to solid-state ones, they are most widely used for laser hair removal (because other procedures require either high selectivity or high peak power, which diode nozzles, in principle, cannot provide). Modern diode lasers are designed in such a way as to provide maximum comfort for a cosmetologist. His manipulator is able to process a large area (several square centimeters or more), work on both flat and uneven surfaces. In modern medical laser systems, such as LASEST, the principle of dynamic operation is implemented, i.e. continuous sliding maniples over the patient’s body, with the possibility of safe multiple processing of the same skin area.

Principle of operation of a diode laser

The using of 808 nm wavelength provides penetration into the skin to a depth of 3 mm, which exceeds the depth of most follicles. Destruction of follicles is achieved due to the effect of selective photothermolysis. Despite the fact that the selectivity of diode laser radiation is worse than the selectivity of a solid state alexandrite laser, melanin is still a good enough chromophore for a wavelength of 808nm to destroy hair follicles or slow

down their growth. Given the low selective properties of diodes, usually requires a larger number procedures than using solid-state lasers. Usually, at least 10 procedures are required to achieve a good effect with an 808nm diode laser. A pleasant bonus for clients to remove hair is skin lifting (which is observed to varying degrees when using various laser modules). This result is achieved due to the natural properties of collagen – a protein that forms the extracellular matrix of the dermis. Collagen fibers, albeit to a lesser extent than hemoglobin and melanin, are chromophores. Having absorbed a certain amount of laser beam energy, they heat up and denature, stimulating the process of neocollagenesis – the synthesis of new collagen fibers. Updating the “protein skeleton” of the skin restores its elasticity and leads to a visible rejuvenation effect. As mentioned above, a wavelength of 808 nm allows you to penetrate to great depths and is thus able to act on a large amount of collagen.