Risk, Side Effect, Complication of Laser Hair Removal - 3
Burns of skin
Burns is very rare and they are usually the work of less qualified technicians. It can be painful, but burns will heal with appropriate.
Post operative crusting
10% of patients, treated for laser hair removal with long-pulsed ruby and alexandrite lasers may develop crusting. This is usually due to repeatedly over treating an area with laser. In this case appropriate postoperative care is strongly recommended in order to avoid an otherwise inevitable skin crusting.
Wound infection
Wound infection is uncommon after laser procedures and may be noted in only those cases in which the epidermis has been damaged. Infection can be caused by any of the various pathogens, viral, fungal or bacterial. Herpes simplex virus might reactivate in some patients. This can be effectively controlled by application of antibiotic and anti viral creams as prophylactic medication after the procedure.
Scarring
Cosmetic scarring has been the most feared consequence of laser hair removal but thanks to the new technology of Q switched and pulsed lasers that uses the principle of selective photothermolysis, the risk of scarring is greatly reduced. This may result directly after a laser procedure or as a result of an infection occurring afterwards. The risk of scarring is minimal with pulsed hair removal laser systems. Different factors like number of times exposed and laser used determine the intensity and extent of scarring.