A photo-epilation device (1) comprises: a hand-held housing (10) with at least one window opening (11)； a lamp (20) accommodated in the housing for generating light having a spectral range from approximately 575 nm to approximately 1700 nm； and a control device (70) for driving the lamp (20). The lamp is switched on in brief pulses having a pulse duration in the range from 1.1 ms to 1.9 ms, preferably about 1.8 ms, and a pulse repetition frequency in the range from 0.1 Hz to 0.5 Hz. The fluence on skin level is in the range from 2 to 7 J/cm2, dependent on the skin type, particularly from: 5 to 7 J/cm2 for skin types I, II, III； 4 to 6 J/cm2 for skin type IV； 3 to 5 J/cm2 for skin type V； and 2 to 3 J/cm2 for skin type VI.
