Potential Risks and Side Effects : Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is designed for safety and effectiveness, but certain variables such as the specific laser, skin type, hair color, and factors on the day of treatment can all potentially affect the results. In some cases this leads to unwanted side effects, many of which are normal and temporary, but others can be more serious and longer lasting. It is important to understand the risks beforehand, and here we explore such side effects and their likelihood. Please talk to an expert if you have any further concerns.
Regular side effects
During treatment you will feel an amount of pain which is likened to elastic bands snapping on the skin. The skin can also feel itchy and tingly, with numbness arising in some patients. After the procedure the treated skin will swell up and redden for approximately three days. Some reddening lasts longer after repeated sessions, depending primarily on the depth of the wound and success of the laser’s cooling techniques. Bumpiness is common. All of these side effects go hand in hand with the treatment and are to be expected.
Temporary side effects
The regular side effects mentioned above are temporary, and certain slightly rarer side effects are also fleeting. These include blisters on the treated skin, which are more widespread on darker skin types, though this side effect is minimized with evolving cooling devices (e.g. cryogen spray) which protect the skin. Hypopigmentation is also common in darker skin types, and involves temporary loss of natural skin color. Ask your clinic or spa whether their laser type is linked to higher incidences of hypopigmentation. Hyperpigmentation makes the skin darker; it is temporary in most cases. Temporary side effects can last for days, weeks or months depending on individual factors.
Permanent side effects
Some of the rarer complications of laser hair removal result in permanent changes to the treated skin. This is generally limited to burning and scarring. Burns are very rare and usually avoided by skilled and highly qualified professionals; this highlights the importance of checking the credentials of the specialist who will perform the procedure. The permanence of burns depends on their size, severity and aftercare. Scarring arises either after the treatment or due to an infection. This can be unpleasant but pulsed lasers have reduced the risk of scars developing. Multiple exposures to the laser can increase the risk, but talk to a specialist about the laser you have chosen and how it might affect your skin.
Other side effects
Approximately 10% of patients suffer from crusting or scabbing, which is temporary and can be diminished with postoperative care. Bruising is quite rare, as is purpura which turns tanned skin purple. Some tattoos are darkened if their site is treated, but the specialist can minimize this risk. The lasers pose greatest risk to the eye, which is guarded against with laser-specific safety eyewear.
The chances of sustaining the more worrying side effects are minimized the closer the candidate is to the ideal skin and hair type.