What to Know About Laser Hair Removal Burns
What to Know About Laser Hair Removal Burns

Those looking for a permanent solution for body hair removal often turn to laser hair removal. This is a cosmetic procedure that uses intense heat from a laser to damage the hair follicles and prevent future hair growth. It’s most commonly used on the:

  • underarms
  • legs
  • face
  • arms
  • bikini line

While side effects are common after the treatment, burns aren’t normally one of them. If this happens, this could be because the treatment wasn’t done properly. In addition, sometimes a person’s skin type may be incompatible with the laser.

Keep reading to learn more about laser hair removal burns, including prevention and treatment.

What to Know About Laser Hair Removal Burns

Why burns can happen

Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment, or melanin, in the hair follicle.

This method doesn’t work for blonde, white, or gray hair because they have less melanin, says Malini Fowler MD, FAAD, board certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in San Antonio, Texas. It also doesn’t work for red hair, since it contains a different type of melanin.

While it’s common for the skin to be pink in color and slightly sensitive after laser hair removal, burns are rare.

Here are some possible reasons why they can happen.

Prolonged laser contact

According to research, burns can result from the laser being in contact with the skin for too long with improper cooling. The type of laser may also be at fault, as newer devices typically have more safety features to reduce burns.

What to Know About Laser Hair Removal Burns

Laser gel

Researchers also found that the laser gel may be part of the problem. Certain gels are used to work in conjunction with the laser during treatment.

They cited a case in which a woman ended up with an epidermal burn reaction due to accumulated debris on the laser applicator device.

It’s also possible to get burned if the gel isn’t allowed to dry before the area is treated.

Read more: healthline.com

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 Read also: What are the Pros and Cons of At-Home Laser Hair Removal

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