Is Laser Hair Removal Recommend for Patients with Eczema?

asked 11 months ago by markwbball in detroit, mi
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 732 times
Tags: age 25-34, back, male, contraindication, eczema

I am a 30 yo male with eczema on my back and was considering laser hair removal for my back. Is it recommended, any possible negative effects for my eczema?

5 answers to Is Laser Hair Removal Recommend for Patients with Eczema?

Laser hair removal with underlying eczema

Depending on how extensive and severe the eczema is. If you first treat the eczema and cleared it laser hair removal can be performed. After treatment you may need to use some lubricant or mild steroid creams.

H. Eliot Y. Ghatan, MD
New York Dermatologist

Laser Hair Removal is Safe in Eczema Patients

Even with active patches of eczema in the area, laser hair removal is perfectly safe. Lasers create a beam of highly concentrated light that penetrates deep into the skin where it delivers a controlled amount of therapeutic heat. This light energy is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to destroy numerous follicles at a time and leaves the surrounding skin unaffected. Prior to your treatment you... more

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

LHR and Eczema

You should make sure there are no open wounds when you have your laser hair removal, such as excessively scratches areas. Use over the counter hydrocortisone ointment (or prescription cortisone cream if you have any) to any eczema areas on your back for the week prior to the treatment. Numbing creams can irritate scratched or itchy patches, so it's best if you can get your dermatitis under control prior to applying the numbing cream. Other than that laser hair removal... more

Madeline Krauss, MD
Boston Dermatologic Surgeon

Laser hair removal and eczema

If there are erosions, open sores, then those areas should be avoided because of colonization of normal bacteria. If there are no open sores, then maintaining eczema treatment with emollients and avoiding hot water and using mild soap is important before and after the laser hair removal.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Laser hair removal is safe in patients with eczema

Laser hair removal (LHR) is safe in patients with eczema. Ideally, eczema can be brought under control first in areas where LHR is to be performed as to avoid irritation and skin breakdown. Good moisturisation, topical steroids or topical immunomodulators can help bring it under control.

Anatoli Freiman, MD
Toronto Dermatologist

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