The Facts About Laser Hair Removal
Yes, laser hair removal is a common and effective way to permanently remove hair. It is safe, but remember these tips:
- Hair removal lasers target the pigment in hair (that’s how they work). Hair lasers can damage darker or pigmented skin as the laser will target both the hair and the skin, burning it. This can lead to permanent skin discoloration.
- Tanned skin is dark skin, and laser hair removal should never be done on people with a tan.
- Laser hair treatments hurt. Some people find it too painful, while others don’t mind it. Numbing creams can lessen the sting; however, they can only be used in small amounts. Large quantities of numbing cream can be toxic and has led to death in extreme circumstances.
- The light from the laser can be damaging to your eyes. Be sure you’re wearing approved safety glasses at all times.
- Laser hair removal can be additive – once you’ve treated one area, you might want to treat lots of other “hairy spots” which can be harmful to your wallet.
Photo: Sean Drellinger, Flickr
*This blog post was originally published at The Dermatology Blog*
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