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What are the possible risks,
side effects, complications of laser hair removal?

Normal Hypo pigmentation Post operative crusting Darkening of tattoos

Rare Blistering of skin Scarring Injury to eye

Hyper pigmentation Reddening after treatment Wound infection Conclusion

The possibility exists that some side effects or complications can occur given various variables:

Normal
Itching, during treatment
Redness for up to 3 days
Swelling (around mouth of follicle) for up to 3 days
Pain, tingling, or feeling of numbness (cold spray)

Rare
Crusting/scab formation (on ingrown hairs)
Bruising
Purpura (purple coloring of the skin) on tanned areas
Infection
Temporary pigment change (hypo-pigmentation hyper-pigmentation)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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