Laser Hair Removal Risks

Laser hair removal risks and dangers – Is it worth a try?

 Laser hair removal method is an effective and convenient way of removing unwanted hair from different parts of the body. This is a long-term hair reduction method where low intensity laser beams are used to burn hair follicles and thus prevent hair growth in that particular region for a prolonged duration of time.

In fact, the method of removing unwanted hair using laser beams has been approved by USFDA as the safest hair removal method amongst the available ones. However, the fact is that laser hair removal method is a highly expensive medical treatment procedure that must be performed only by an experienced surgeon. Also, the procedure involves certain risks and dangers. These risks, also termed as side effects, can be broadly classified into short-term risk and long-term risks.

Short term risks involve redness or swelling in the treated area that is often associated with slight inflammation. All these side effects subside within few days. Also, at the time when the procedure is being done, patient experiences feeling such as a slight stinging sensation indicating that the laser has been activated. A series of impulses are provided on the skin so as to remove hair. Due to these impulses, patients also experience a prickling or slight burning sensation during treatment. Hence, clinicians tend to apply a topical anesthetic so as to reduce these sensations and minimize any discomfort.

Long term side effects include skin burns and changes in the skin color. In fact, skin burns are the most common dangers associated with improperly performed laser hair removal treatment. Skin burns occur when the laser energy is absorbed by the skin rather than the hair follicles. So as to avoid such a mishap, doctors should always ensure that they are treating the right person who skin is best suited for the treatment. And also, one should also ensure that he/she is using the right type of laser depending on the color of the hair and the skin.

Not every individual is suitable for laser treatment. The entire process of hair removal using lasers is dependant on melanin, a natural chromophore or pigment that provides color to the skin and the hair. When the laser beams are targeted, melanin present beneath the hair shaft is the one that readily absorbs the light and energy emitted from those beams. Due to this, heat is generated at the bottom of the hair shaft and finally the entire region gets burnt, thereby preventing hair growth. However, melanin is also present in the skin too. The greatest challenge in laser treatment is to direct the laser so that the hair shaft is targeted rather than damaging the melanin pigment present on the surface of the skin. Hence, an ideal combination for laser treatment is black or brown hair and lighter skin. Skin burns during laser hair removal occur more frequently in individuals with darker skin.

Another danger involved with laser hair removal treatment is the change in the skin tone, also known as pigmentation. Usually, two contrasting types of pigmentation are commonly observed in certain patients undergoing laser treatment. These include hyperpigmentation or darkening of the skin and hypopigmentation or lightening of the skin. Hyperpigmentation occurs when the laser hair treatment process stimulates melanin production resulting in a skin reaction that is almost similar to the one observed due to suntan. Hypopigmentation occurs when the melanin production is lost. Important fact is that hyperpigmentation is reversible but hypopigmentation is not.

While opting for laser hair removal method, one should always remember that experience and training are highly critical for the success of the process. Long term risks due to laser treatment are quite a common occurrence in circumstances when appropriate care is not taken at the time of procedure or when the procedure is performed by somebody who doesn’t have enough experience in performing laser hair removal treatment. Hence, it is very much important to have a clear understanding about the credentials of the doctor performing the procedure.

Moreover, while selecting a laser clinic, one must ensure that the staffs in the clinic are well-informed about their duties and provide appropriate personalized care and attention to patients. One can even identify the credibility of the laser clinic during personal consultation with the physician. Doctors must always be willing to explain the potential risks involved in a particular procedure and ensure that all the questions that the patients arise get answered in an appropriate manner.