'The World'

By Ingrid Preube

Most people are worried about the chances of scarring when undergoing removal of hair by laser treatment. While this has happened in the past, particularly in people with darker skin, these days the new laser machinery has all but eliminated this problem.

Darkening of Tattoos

If you have tattoos in the area of the body being treated, you must be aware that darkening sometimes occurs and discuss this with your medical professional before undergoing laser procedures.

The Risk of Eye Injury

Laser eye safety is vitally important during any procedure involving lasers. To prevent any damage to the eyes, wavelength-specific laser safety eye protection gear must be donned by both operators and clients.

Reddening

The surface of the skin may be temporarily reddened after significant laser exposure. It is one of the minor side effects of laser hair removal. Proper cooling and the use of proper exposure time during the procedure minimizes this problem.

Skin Blistering

With the development of new and efficient cooling equipment, blistering has been almost eliminated as a consequence of laser hair removal. Tissue cooling can be performed through a contact chill tip or freezing spray to safeguard the surface of the skin. These measures serve to safeguard the skin from excessive thermal abuse.

Crusting of the Dermis


10% of clients treated for laser hair reduction with long-pulsed ruby and alexandrite
lasers may experience crusting. This is generally due to repeatedly over treating an area of the body with laser. When this occurs, appropriate post procedural care is very much recommended in order to avoid further problems.

Post-Laser Infections

Wound infection is rare after laser procedures. If by chance any wounds can be seen on the surface of the skin after laser hair reduction, infection can be controlled with antibiotic and anti viral materials.

Darkening of the Skin

Regardless of the type of laser used, there may be hyper pigmentation of skin after exposure to lasers. In this condition the skin is darkened due to increased pigment deposition. Usually darker skin is more likely to experience this. The good news is that it can be effectively treated with the use of bleaching materials and fades quickly.

Hypo Pigmentation

Lightening of the surface of the skin, or hypo pigmentation, can be experienced, particularly in darker skin types and where there are a large number of exposures to laser procedures. It normally fades quickly; permanent hypo pigmentation is almost unknown. This problem is mostly experienced with use of alexandrite, Q-switched ruby and Nd:YAG lasers.

How Concerned Should You Be?

Laser hair reduction is an vitally safe procedure; the problem we have described are very rare. To keep yourself as safeguarded as possible, always use a reputable laser hair clinic with a medical professional you can trust, and you will probably encounter no side effects of laser hair removal at all!