Laser Hair Removal Q&A
69%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
237 Reviews
Laser Hair Removalbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Laser Hair Removal Cost: $1,325

Learn about Laser Hair Removal

993 people and 239 doctors are talking about Laser Hair Removal

Get Free Email Updates

Is It Possible to Regain Pigment in Skin After Massive Laser Hair Removal Burns?

asked 1 year ago by BurnedInChicago in Chicago
Latest answer by Sanusi Umar, MD
Question viewed 3,457 times
Tags: legs, female, burn

I was burned by laser hair removal all over my legs, when the blisters healed the area under the burns lost all pigment. I've done microdermabrasion a few times but that will only temporarily even out the skin color. Is there anything permanent that can be done to get the skin pigment back? What are potential treatments? My goal is to just go on a beach vacation and not look like a tortured person - I'm young and I'm just hoping to be in the sun again! (with sun screen, of course).

7 answers to Is It Possible to Regain Pigment in Skin After Massive Laser Hair Removal Burns?

+2

Pigment loss , scarring

Restoring lost pigment is very difficult,particularly if there is scarring.There is one treatment that I have used over the past2 -3 years which has actually been very successful.The prescription product, Latisse , which is FDA approved for stimulating growth of eyelash hairs , has a possible side-effect of stimulating skin pigmentation if it comes in contact repeatedly with the skin.I have asked my patients to use this product twice a day on the spots of pigment loss to take advantage... more
Richard Fitzpatrick, MD

San Diego Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Regain Pigment

It is possible, you just have to take precaution such as staying away from the sun as much as you can. You definitely have to give this time so it can fully recover; You can in the meantime use blending cover-up creams to camouflage the discoloration.
Sanusi Umar, MD

Redondo Beach Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Hypopigmentation or depigmentation after laser hair removal

It does not appear that you had a typical laser used for your hair removal as the spot size is very small and round. I am not able to determine what wavelength the laser emits but your pigment in the epidermis did absorb the laser energy preferentially over the hair shaft pigment in the dermis thereby creating a surface change.  A wood's light examination can sometimes aid the dermatologist in determining if this is a pigment total loss or just a reduction in pigment, the latter... more
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Is it possible to regain pigment after laser hair removal burns

The good news is that from your photos it looks like your skin is repigmenting on its own.  Stay out of the sun as the lighter areas are more susceptible to sun damage and also will show up more when the surrounding areas tan. The re-pigmentation is a slow phenomenon. In some patients laser-induced hypopigmentation is permanent. Usually repigmentation happens when the melanocytes (pigment producing cells) come into a lightened area from either the hair follicles or the... more
Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Pigment Loss from Laser Hair Removal

There is always the possibility that the skin will re pigment itself in time so things can gradually improve. Artificial tanning creams can cover up things nicely while you're waiting.
Mitchell Schwartz, MD

South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

+1

Post inflammatory hypopimentation- pigment loss- may be permanent after laser hair removal.

Post inflammatory hypopimentation- pigment loss- may be permanent. However, there are short wavelength laser that may induce repigmentation.
Edward Lack, MD

Chicago Dermatologist
+1

Hypopigmentation

The pictures that you have posted demonstrate hypopigmentation due to deep dermal injury.  Though these will improve with time, they may not completely disappear.
Marc Schneider, MD

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question