What's the best laser for Fitzpatrick skin type II? Do I need to shave the area or grow out the area to be treated?

Hi Tricia.  There are many brands of lasers but only two TYPES that are best for you.  As a skin type II you are best suited to an Alexandrite or Diode laser.  The type of laser indicates the type of light - 755 nanometers for the Alexandrite and 810 for the Diode.  These numbers have nothing to do with the brand of laser, which is to say, the company that makes the laser.  So, regardless of which office you choose, make sure they have either a Diode or Alexandrite laser.Once you know this - choose someone that has lots of experience.  The fallacy among consumers is that laser hair removal is the same at every office.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  When American Laser Centers went out of business, we met patients that had been going to their offices for years and had 10 or even 20 treatments without a high % of permanent hair removal.  The reason is primarily because the company had high turnover and was always having to hire and train new nurses to perform the treatments.  This meant they were not providing ideal treatments.The analogy we like to use in regard to experience is that anyone can drive a high performance Nascar race car, but only the professionals can drive it safely at 200 MPH and only the best win races with it.  The same can be said for laser treatments.  Any nurse can use one, but only the best and most experienced will help you achieve 75%, 85% or 95% permanent hair removal in 6-8 visits.  So, find the right type of laser and the right experience in a practitioner and you will do very well.To read an article we wrote recently about the finer details of the laser hair removal process, click on the link below.

For someone with Fitzpatrick  skin type II a 755 Alexandrite laser will work well.  You must shave the area prior to treatment to minimize discomfort.  Additionally, a topical anesthetic can be used prior to treatment but must be completely removed before treatment begins.

The best are diode and alex lasers for you, but the majority will work.  Avoid yag and it will take much longer.  Best, Dr. Emer.

The most effective laser for light skinned hair removal are the diode laser and the alexandrite laser. I find the Lightsheer Duet to be fairly comfortable and very quick, with no topicals needed. The hair needs to be shaved the morning of the procedure. The YAG laser is safer for darker skin types but not as effective. The other type of laser is a Ruby laser and this was the first laser used for this. It is not a good choice anymore for LHR because the other laser are better.

Hello, You are right, there are many options.  We at Paradise Valley Dermatology prefer "laser" as opposed to "light" devices.  Because you are a skin type 2, you should be safe with either the GY 1064 wave length, or the GL 755 wave length.  Persons with darker skin types should only be treated with the GY 1064. One of the devices we use is the Gentle Max Pro by Candela.  The device has both 1064 & 755 wave lengths and is safe for all skin types.  One of the benefits of this device is the patented Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD) or air cooling. A burst of cryogen is sprayed as the laser pulses to cool the surface of the skin making it more comfortable. Some facilities may use topical numbing, but large areas like legs are hard to cover with numbing cream and usually not done.  You should shave the area to be treated prior to the laser treatment.  Good Luck!