Can laser hair removal be damaging?

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. The 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.

You may have heard that laser hair removal can cause skin cancer or other types of cancer. Ionizing radiation that passes through the body can cause the development of cancer because of the way it can cause genetic mutations. However, as stated by the FDA, laser hair removal uses non-ionizing radiation, which only treats the surface of the skin and poses no risk of causing cancer. Laser hair removal is generally safe and effective for most people.

Only an experienced health professional should perform the procedure. The lasers used in this treatment only remove hair and do not penetrate the skin or affect any other organ in the body. See the following infographic for best practices before and during laser hair removal. People with blonde, reddish, or gray hair may not notice big changes, since laser lights are attracted to dark hair and often don't work with light hair.

Let's say you have unwanted hair on your body and you've heard that laser hair removal can provide the smooth skin you want. As with other cosmetic hair removal methods, damaging the hair follicles with a laser can create a risk of infection. However, before starting therapy, people should know some side effects of laser hair removal, as well as some myths surrounding the process. The Mayo Clinic suggests that, at least 4 weeks before laser treatment, you don't use hair removal techniques, such as waxing or waxing.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends seeing only certified dermatologists to perform laser hair removal (. Technology is advancing rapidly and there are more and more commercial claims that laser hair removal on all skin types is free of side effects. There are only a few techniques that people can use to permanently remove hair from the face, legs, or body. Laser hair removal can be used anywhere on the body, except for the area around the eye, because of the possibility of eye damage caused by the laser.

It is much safer and more effective to see a doctor who is certified and trained in laser hair removal. However, some people may develop moderate side effects of laser hair removal, such as swelling, redness, skin irritation, and changes in skin pigmentation. The objective of this study is to review the evidence in published literature on the incidence of adverse effects after laser and light systems for hair removal.