Laser Hair Removal Side Effects and Risks?

Laser hair removal for the face and body has advanced throughout the years.  Anytime there is a laser on your skin, there are risks involved.  The laser uses heat to paralyze the hair follicle from regrowth.  Each visit the lasers heat may be turned higher to target smaller follicles.  As long as the technician is well trained with years of experience the patient should do just fine.  The main risk is burning the skin.  This may happen if the patient has been exposed to sun exposure, tanning beds, or artificial spray tanning.  Sun exposure may activate melanocytes in the skin and bring them to the surface.  The eye is unable to see the pigment changes and may cause burning from the laser.  If the laser is turned up to high, this also may cause some burning, please communicate with your technician about your comfort.  It is important for your technician to discuss all the dos and don'ts with the patient before performing this procedure.  Never hesitate to ask many questions during your consultation. Please make sure you are seen by an expert with years of experience with a doctor on site.  There are many medical spas popping up all around the country, so make sure you are being treated with an expert.

The side effects of laser hair removal are reduced when using an up to date machine and properly trained and experienced providers.  Laser hair removal tends to be a treatment of high safety and high satisifaction for patient and provider alike when appropriate standards are met.  Side effects include:-Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation- Usually a result of a burn from the laser.  Hyperpigmentation is typically temporary while hypopigmentation is thought to be permanent.  Both are rare with an experienced provider-Scarring- Scarring can occur with insufficient cooling or improper frequency of wavelength.  Experience counts here-Hypertrichosis- Hair actually grows more when the fluence is too low (stimulate the hair bulb)-Tattoo damage- The darkest color often wins so be cautious around dark tattoos-Viral infection- It is possible for laser to reactivate herpes virus although rare

The biggest risk with laser hair removal is skin damage which can lead to a change in the skin's texture or color. If you expose your skin to sun several days before of after the laser, the chances of skin irritation or problems with pigmentation are more likely to occur. Many patients get 1-2 days of mild redness at each hair follicle, but this is only temporary and is different from a reaction that would cause hyperpigmentation or scarring.

The great safety of laser hair removal has been shown over the many years of its use. The important thing to look out for is the right type of laser for your skin type, and a practitioner who is well trained and experienced in hair removal. After and before laser treatments you must avoid sun exposure to reduce your risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Rare risks (some of which are permanent):burnsinfectionpermanent pigment changesscarsSide effects:sensitivityrednessswelling

Laser hair removal, for the most part, is safe as long as the correct settings are used and if the patient follows instructions. Some common temporary side effects are usually swelling around the hair follicle and redness that usually subsides within hours. Other risks include skin discoloration (can be temporary or permanent), blistering, and scarring that is associated with burns (which should be rare). Make sure to let your provider know of any medications (oral and topical) that you are taking because some medications can make you photosensitive, and try to avoid sun exposure which can contribute to burns with laser hair removal. Laser hair removal usually feels like a warm rubberband snap on your skin. If it is excessively painful, let your provider know. An experienced laser operator will usually be able to assess skin reaction and skin type in order to use the correct laser settings.

Hyperpigmentation or scars are very rare, and almost non-existent when visiting a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Board Certified Dermatologist, provided you follow instructions.  Nothing is without risk however.

There is a science behind laser hair removal and the risks depend on the expertise of the practitioner.  I personally believe that laser hair removal should be performed by a physician. This minimizes risks and improves results. The theoretical risks of laser include pigmentation and skin irritation.  These are minimal risks, however.

The most common side effect from laser hair removal is a blister. Burns and hypopigmentation are also possible but less common. Several important factors in trying to avoid have a side effect from laser hair removal:

Make sure the laser being used is ideal for your skin type.
Make sure proper cooling is utilized for the surface of the skin.
Make sure you do not tan or take photosensitizing drugs before the treatment.
Make sure you choose an experienced practitioner and ask lots of questions.

If done safely within in the recommended settings for your skin type, it is unlikely that you will have any side effects. However, when side effects do happen, generally they are related to color changes, burns or rarely scarring. If done on the lip area, it dcan cause cold sores which if left untreated can cause scarring. Sun exposure before or after the treatments can increase the likelihood of these side effects.
Regards