Laser and intense pulsed light hair removal technologies: from professional to home use

Summary Light‐based hair removal (LHR) is one of the fastest growing, nonsurgical aesthetic cosmetic procedures in the United States and Europe. A variety of light sources including lasers, e.g. alexandrite laser (755 nm), pulsed diode lasers (800, 810 nm), Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) and broad‐spectrum intense pulsed light (IPL, 590–1200 nm), are available and used widely for such procedures in dermatological/clinical settings under proper supervision. Patient selection and appropriate fluence settings are managed by professionals to maximize efficacy while minimizing adverse events. In the past 5 years, LHR devices have been sold directly to consumers for treatment in the home. In this review, we outline the principles underlying laser and IPL technologies and undertake an evidence‐based assessment of the short‐ and long‐term efficacy of the different devices available to the practising dermatologist and discuss the efficacy and human safety implications of home‐use devices.