Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blisters, crusts, scars, or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, especially on darker skin. Anyone with extra body hair can have laser hair removal. It can improve your appearance or the image you have of yourself.
Many people also prefer not to have to shave regularly. Lasers used in laser hair removal produce a small amount of radiation. However, this radiation is not thought to be harmful and there is no evidence that laser hair removal therapy causes skin cancer. Laser hair removal can be dangerous in inexperienced hands.
Burns, permanent changes in skin color, and scarring can occur. You can greatly reduce the risk of possible side effects if the treatment is performed by a doctor who is extremely knowledgeable in the use of lasers and who has in-depth knowledge of the skin. The AAD recommends that you choose a board-certified dermatologist to perform laser treatments. The long-term effects of laser therapy, including the possibility of an increased risk of cancer, have not been studied.
Some researchers have observed changes in atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) after laser hair removal. Therefore, they suggest caution in the use of cosmetic laser therapy for people with a personal or family history of skin cancer or atypical moles, until further research determines if these changes may be malignant or not. For this reason, it is preferred that patients undergo laser hair removal performed by a qualified dermatologist with experience in the area. As with other cosmetic hair removal methods, damaging the hair follicles with a laser can create a risk of infection.
There are only a few techniques that people can use to permanently remove hair from the face, legs, or body. People with blond, reddish, or gray hair may not notice big changes, since laser lights are attracted to dark hair and often don't work on light hair. This is because scientists have not conducted any human studies that demonstrate the safety of laser hair removal during pregnancy. Some people who undergo laser hair removal may notice some adverse effects as a result of the procedure.
When making the decision to start laser hair removal therapy, it is important to consider the specific benefits and risks for the person. Other health risks, such as serious eye damage, lead to the contraindication of laser hair removal in certain areas of the body. In the case of laser hair removal, the laser beam is used to kill hair follicles (cells from which hair grows), causing the loss of hair growth in those follicles. For some patients, hair on certain areas of the body may be resistant to laser treatment or may grow back after treatment.
Laser hair removal can have an impact on skin pigmentation in the affected area, and the skin may darken or have a lighter color. Naturally or artificially tanned skin can make laser hair removal less effective and cause side effects. The risks of laser hair removal can be minimized by the correct use of laser light when administering the therapy, as well as appropriate interventions before and after the procedure. Today, laser hair removal is a treatment option for patients who have light hair and fair skin and patients who have dark skin.
For most people, laser hair removal is a safe way to remove hair in unwanted places permanently or for long periods of time. .
