Does laser hair removal not work on some body parts?

Question

I astarted doing laser hair removal around 3 months ago, and when I first went to my consulting session I was told that very smooth hair (around shoulders and upper arms, around the upper stomach, etc) cannot be treated with laser, and that it may have negative consequences later on and would be my own responsibility. I don't get it, is that really the case? Why? I really want to get these parts done, but I am too scared, what are the actual implications?

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello, Realselfuser2564! I'm Landry - an aesthetician at Shah Facial Plastics located in the River North area of Chicago.

So with areas like the shoulders, upper arms, or upper stomach—where the hair is really fine or light—we have to be careful. Laser works best on darker, coarser hair because it targets the pigment in the follicle. When the hair is too light or soft, the laser can’t really ‘see’ it well enough to destroy it.

In some cases, instead of reducing the hair, it can actually do the opposite and stimulate more growth. It’s rare, but it’s called paradoxical hypertrichosis. That’s why we usually don’t recommend treating those areas unless the hair is dark and dense enough. If we do, it’s with a clear understanding that there’s a small risk of increased growth.

If those areas are really bothering you, electrolysis might be a better option—it’s safe for all hair types, even the lightest or finest ones.

Does laser hair removal not work on some body parts?

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