Is it true that African American's cannot get laser hair removal because of our darker skin? (photo)

Question

I am African American and has always been told we can not do laser hair removal because of our darker skin. Is this true?

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi Keya.  African Americans can ABSOLUTELY get laser hair removal.  The key issue is what type of laser technology is being used.  Safe and effective treatments can be rendered with a Nd:Yg laser (1064 nanometers).  There are many types of Nd:Yg lasers, but it's important to find someone that knows how to use them well for your skin type to get a high percentage of permanent hair removal.  We use the Sciton Profile and you can see photos of laser hair removal for dark skin at the link below.

Anna I. Wooten, MD, FACS · Answer

4keya, First off, yes, it is possible to perform laser hair removal on patients with darker skin types, such as yours.However, the reason you have been told that you cannot do laser hair removal is because lasers carry a much higher risk of burning and potentially hyper-pigmenting the skin of darker-skinned patients. New lasers, such as our LightSheer Duet laser claim to be able to treat a wider variety of skin types, such as yours, however, the treatment settings would have to be greatly reduced in order to ensure your safety (you wouldn't want to walk away from a cosmetic treatment with any sort of unsightly scarring!). Because of this, you may not get the most effective treatment.

Is it true that African American's cannot get laser hair removal because of our darker skin? (photo)

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lightsheer Laser

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Is it true that African American's cannot get laser hair removal because of our darker skin? (photo)

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lightsheer Laser

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.