Some Laser Hair Removal Side Effects May Cause Slight Inconvenience

There are few known laser hair removal side effects. These side effects are generally superficial and temporary. That’s because laser technology in medical practice has been proven safe.

In fact, the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has approved the use of lasers for hair removal. Laser hair removal safety is also enhanced by trained medical professionals and expert laser technicians.

But like any medical procedure, it is just normal for laser hair removal to have side effects or risks. Here are the few laser hair removal side effects you may encounter during treatment.

Effect during Laser Hair Removal Treatment: Pain

The most noticeable side effect during treatment is pain. There is really no painless procedure for laser hair removal. Even the IPL method, which is touted as painless, could cause a slight pricking sensation during treatment.

This may not be painful but it will case a little discomfort. The pricking sensation is due to the effect of laser on the skin.

However, most laser hair removal methods are really painful. This is due to the heat generated by lasers in burning the hair follicles.

Some dermatologists try to lessen the pain of their patients by introducing anesthetics. This will numb the burning sensation.

Pain is generally felt by patients with darker skin. That’s because some of the laser beam is being absorbed by the skin pigment which results to painful burning sensation.

Common Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

Common side effects of laser hair removal after treatment include swelling of treated area. For some patients, laser hair removal results to redness, skin discoloration, and itchiness of affected areas.

This side effect is more severe in patients with skin types 5 and 6. This means that if you have brown or dark brown skin color, then you could be prone to these side effects.

Swelling and skin discoloration may disappear quickly. For best cases, the side effects will last only for hours. Normally, swelling will subside in two to three days.

Rare Side Effects: Worse Cases

Worse laser hair removal side effects include blistering, permanent scarring, and striping. These side effects may be due to improper application of laser.

Blistering usually occurs to dark skinned patients. This is due to their skin sensitivity to laser heat. This could be avoided by proper adjustment of light wavelengths and duration of treatment.

Scarring is a result of severe blistering. After the blisters have healed, the patient may incur permanent scars.

Striping is the appearance of white stripes along the treated area. This is like discoloration but can be very unsightly due to the zebra-like appearance of the stripes. If striping occurs, it would be best to consult a dermatologist.

Laser hair removal side effects are natural treatment occurrences. These are temporary disorders and do not pose significant health hazard.