Yag is typically used for hair removal, vascular lesions, and collagen rebuilding or skin rejuvenation. It also removes a broad spectrum of tattoo ink colors, mainly black. It is the most common wavelength used in cosmetic lasers today.
This laser targets red so it is used for veins as well as red colored birth marks and red or orange tattoo ink. It is coupled with the Nd:Yag in a variety of tattoo removal lasers such as the Candela Alex TriVantage and ConBio Revlite.
The Alex is used for hair removal sometimes as well as to remove tattoo ink greens and blues. It is also combined with other wavelengths in tattoo removal devices to create the ability to remove a full spectrum of ink colors.
The Erbium targets water and thus is used for laser peels. It is a slightly more aggressive means of treating skin that is damaged by acne, scars, and more.
Pulsed dye is used for a variety of treatments. It is not quite as strong as its competitors and needs to be replaced once the dye kits are low. However, it can be effective for tattoo removal and pigment reduction.
Diodes in this range are often used for hair removal on darker skin. This is still a common and very effective wavelength, and many people prefer it to the 1064nm depending upon who is their primary clientele.