Is laser hair removal an option with my level of sun exposure?

Question

I was an outdoor athlete, and I continue to workout outside on weekends. I usually spend about an hour in the sun on Saturday and Sunday every weekend. I always wear sunscreen so my skin is still light and minimally tanned, and I have very dark, course hair. Am I at a higher risk of complications for laser hair removal because of my outdoor workouts? Would electrology be a better option?

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi Discbabe.  Anyone that has consistent and prolonged sun exposure like yourself is more susceptible to side effects during laser hair removal procedures.  The key concern is that tanning brings melanin to the surface of the skin and the melanin in the skin competes with the hair for absorption of the laser light.  For this reason, we suggest that our patients have two weeks without significant sun exposure before undergoing laser hair removal.  In addition, if you are quite tan, the energy will have to be decreased which can compromise your results.  For this reason, it would be advisable to do the treatments only when you haven't been in the sun for a couple weeks.  Good luck.To see before and after pictures of our Los Angeles laser hair removal patients, click the link below.

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thanks for your question. To determine whether laser hair removal is appropriate for you an in-person evaluation is required to determine your skin type and the areas you would like treated. Generally, if there is minimal sun exposure to the treated areas and the area is covered with at least an SPF 55 sunscreen then it should be ok to get laser hair removal. If there is extensive sun exposure, such as sun bathing or tanning then we recommend avoiding laser hair removal during this time. Again, this is highly variable from person to person and that's why an in-person evaluation is needed. Hope this helps answer your question.

Is laser hair removal an option with my level of sun exposure?

Answers (2)

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