|
|
||||||||
|
Home |
Possible risks, side effects, complications of laser
hair removal
|
||
 Normal
side effectsPermanent
side effectsReddening after treatmentPost operative crustingDarkening of tattoos |
Rare
side effectsHyper pigmentationBlistering of skinWound infectionInjury to eye |
|
Possibility of side effects or complications can occur given various variables for laser hair removal
Normal
side effects
Itching, during treatment ;
Redness for up to 3 days ;
Swelling (around mouth of follicle) for up
to 3 days ;
Pain, tingling, feeling of numbness (cold
spray)
Rare
side effects
Crusting/scab formation (on ingrown hairs) ;
Bruising ;
Purpura
(purple coloring of the skin) on tanned area ;
Infection ;
Burns of skin ;
Temporary pigment change (hypo-pigmentation
hyper-pigmentation)
Temporary
side effects
|
|
The temporary effects eventually go away
with days, weeks, or even months, including :
Swelling ;
Reddening after treatment
;
Blistering of skin
;
Hypo pigmentation
Permanent
side effects
Hyper pigmentation
;
Burns of skin ;
Scarring
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.
Hypo pigmentation
There is also a likelihood of postoperative hypo
pigmentation in some persons undergoing laser hair
removal. Hypo pigmentation is common in darker skin
type and multiple exposures to laser treatment. As
with hyper pigmentation, it is often temporary,
permanent hypo pigmentation is rarely documented.
This complication is mostly experienced with use of
alexandrite, Q-switched ruby, and Nd:YAG lasers
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.
Effective cooling and use of appropriate exposure
time during the procedure has minimized this
complication.
Blistering of skin
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. Tissue cooling
should be performed through a contact chill tip or
cryogen spray to protect the skin. These measures
serve to protect the skin from excessive thermal
abuse. With the introduction of new and efficient
cooling devices these common side effects have been
mostly taken care of.
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 after
care.
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.
Darkening of
tattoos
Cosmetics and tattoos using ferric oxides are
converted into ferrous oxides by the lasers and
black insoluble pigment is produced within the skin.
This can be avoided easily by washing the eyeliner,
lip liners or brown liners before the laser
treatment and carefully avoiding the tattoos.
Injury to
eye
Laser eye safety is extremely important during
any procedure involving lasers. The direct or
indirect exposure of eyes to laser irradiation can
lead to ocular complications. The lasers can pass
through cornea lens and cause lesions of choroid and
retinal vasculature. These may occur via direct or
indirect ocular exposure to laser irradiation.
Potential damage is wavelength-specific. Thus,
wavelength-specific laser safety eyewear must be
worn by both operators and patients.
Conclusion
Laser hair removal is normally a quiet safe
technique and above mentioned side effects are very
rare and their chances are nearly zeroed in an
person having ideal candidate like properties. The
side-effects can be further minimized by having
proper knowledge of the procedure and selecting a
good laser hair clinic and a well reputed physician
who takes care of clients after treatment
difficulties.
Will
it affect my treatment because excessive hair growth?
Everything
you want to know
about laser hair removal