Black History Month; ND YAG Wavelenght
In honor of Black History Month we wanted to dedicate this blog to explain what is ND YAG wavelength and the benefits it has brought to men and women of color across the globe.
ND YAG (Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) is a type of solid-state laser that is used in a variety of medical and aesthetic applications. The laser emits light in the near-infrared range at a wavelength of 1064 nm, which is well absorbed by melanin (the pigment in hair) and hemoglobin (the pigment in blood). As a result, ND YAG lasers are commonly used for hair removal, tattoo removal, and the treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions. They can also be used for laser-assisted lipolysis, skin resurfacing, and other cosmetic procedures. The laser energy delivered by an ND YAG laser is absorbed by the target tissue, which heats up and is destroyed. The surrounding skin remains unharmed.
The first ND YAG laser was developed in the early 1960s by researchers at the Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California. The laser was named after the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (ND:YAG) crystal that was used as the laser medium. The ND YAG laser quickly found a number of industrial and scientific applications, and its use in medical and aesthetic applications was developed in the decades that followed.
In laser hair removal, ND YAG lasers are used to target and destroy the hair follicles in the skin. The laser energy is absorbed by the melanin in the hair shaft and is transferred to the surrounding hair follicle. The heat generated by the laser energy causes damage to the hair follicle, which stops or slows down hair growth.
Women and men of color have greatly benefitted from the creation of the ND YAG laser in several ways. One of the major benefits is the ability to safely and effectively remove unwanted hair on darker skin types. Prior to the development of the ND YAG laser, traditional laser hair removal was often not recommended for women with darker skin tones, as the risk of skin damage and pigment changes was much higher.
The long wavelength of the ND YAG laser is less likely to cause skin damage or pigment changes, making it a safe and effective option for women of color who want to remove unwanted hair. This has given women and men of color greater access to hair removal treatments and has also helped to reduce the stigma associated with hair growth on darker skin tones.
In addition to hair removal, ND YAG lasers can also be used to treat a variety of other skin conditions, including pigmented and vascular lesions, acne scars, and fine lines and wrinkles. This has given women and men of color access to a wider range of cosmetic treatments and has helped to improve the appearance and health of their skin.
At Satori Laser we made a commitment a long time ago of catering to all skin tones, all of our machines are equipped with ND YAG besides Alexandrite (for light skin tones) and we have many years of experience treating equally and effectively medium and deeper skin tones.