The Risk of Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal side effects – are they serious? There are many factors to consider when choosing whether or not laser hair removal is the right decision for you. One of the most important aspects to think about is the risk of possible side effects associated with the procedure.
If you are considering this treatment, you should be cognizant of the following potential side effects.
Temporary Side Effects The temporary effects eventually go away with days, weeks, or even months)
- Hypo Pigmentation
Lightening of the dermis, or hypo pigmentation, can occur, particularly in tanned skin types and where there are multiple exposures to laser procedures. It normally does not last long; permanent hypo pigmentation is hardly ever seen. This side effect is mostly experienced with use of alexandrite, Q-switched ruby and Nd:YAG lasers
- Skin Blistering
The skin may be blistered after the laser hair removal procedure, the case may be the use of higher fluence for a darker skin type. With the introduction of new and efficient cooling devices, blistering has been pretty much eliminated as a problem caused by laser hair removal. Tissue cooling can be performed through a contact chill tip or freezing spray to safeguard the dermis. These measures serve to safeguard the skin from excessive thermal abuse.
- Reddening After Treatment
The superficial skin is reddened after continuous laser exposure. It is one of the minor laser hair removal side effects and its duration depends upon the depth and degree of dermal wound. Proper effective cooling and use of appropriate exposure time during the procedure has minimized this side effect.
Permanent Side Effects
There is also a very serious chance of possible long-term or permanent epidermal damage. If you are not prepared to accept these risks as an outcome of your procedure then you should think twice about considering this hair removal method.
- Hyper Pigmentation
Whatever the type of laser used chances are there that there may be hyper pigmentation of skin after exposure to lasers. In this condition the skin is darkened as a result of increased pigment deposition. Usually Dark or tanned skin is more prone to develop this. A good news is that it can be readily treated with the use of bleaching agents and is a temporary.
- Laser Scars
Most patients are concerned about the chances of scarring when undergoing reduction of hair with laser treatment. While this has been known to happen in the past, particularly in patients with tanned skin, these days the new laser machinery has all but eliminated this side effect.
- Reddening After Treatment
The dermis may be transiently reddened after repeated 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 therapy minimizes this side effect.
