Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular cosmetic treatment to address unwanted hair. It can be applied to numerous parts of the body for permanent reduction.
Tattoos can impede results when performing laser treatments on skin with tattoos, potentially leading to damage and discoloration of tattoo ink.
It’s Not a Good Idea
Many men and women find the traditional methods of shaving, waxing and plucking to remove unwanted hair to be time consuming, costly and only provide temporary solutions. Laser hair removal provides a safer, effective, and long-term solution; however it should not be considered by those with tattoos; laser treatment has the potential to damage artwork.
Tattoo ink contains dark pigment, which absorbs laser light in much the same way hair follicles absorb light rays, leading to lighter or even missing tattoo colors as a result of treatment. Unfortunately, there have been reports of laser treatments damaging tattoos; often due to unregulated clinics or untrained technicians performing laser procedures incorrectly.
Additionally, laser hair removal procedures can cause damage to the skin around your tattoo and lead to blisters or burns; so it is wise to choose only providers with high clinical standards and rigorous safety regulations, like SK:N.
Laser hair removal relies on lasers to target melanin in hair follicles and destroy them, but unfortunately these lasers cannot distinguish between melanin and tattoo ink on the skin; as a result, lasers could lead to lightening or complete disappearance of tattoos in close proximity to the surface, distorting their shapes as a result – something especially damaging if they’re artwork pieces.
Those with tattoos looking to remove unwanted hair should consider waxing or shaving as alternative approaches that won’t alter your artwork in the same way laser hair removal does, giving them smooth skin they deserve.
Tattoos can be an aesthetically pleasing way to express yourself, yet they aren’t permanent. If you no longer love or wish to cover up an existing design with another tattoo design, laser hair removal could be the solution for you. Just ensure you use a highly-regulated provider and allow at least two-three centimeters between treated area and tattoo.
It’s Not Safe
Laser hair removal works by heating individual follicles until their damage and stopping growth are permanent. Unfortunately, laser light can also affect pigments found in your skin or tattoo ink if laser hair removal will take place over this area of your skin; for that reason, it is wise to consult a dermatologist prior to proceeding.
Tattoos are dark colors that absorb laser light energy, meaning that laser hair removal may alter their colors over time. Furthermore, laser treatment may damage ink used in tattoos causing their colors and clarity to change over time.
Before having laser hair removal done, you will need to protect your tattoos with a shield or bandage and apply topical anesthetic in the treatment area to help minimize discomfort and any changes to skin color that you might experience. In most cases, any discomfort should only last a few hours.
Depending on where your tattoos are situated, some slight skin irritation may result from their procedure. While this should not be cause for alarm, if symptoms persist or worsen it would be wise to consult your dermatologist for advice.
Although less common, laser hair removal can produce serious side effects as well. These side effects include blistering, scarring and skin crusting. You can reduce the risk by following all instructions given by your physician before and after laser treatment; including not using any sunless skin creams or tanning beds at least six weeks prior to starting laser therapy.
Due to the risks associated with laser hair removal, it may be more prudent to find other means of hair removal. Consider electrolysis instead; this permanent solution offers safe and long-lasting results while being far less time consuming than shaving, waxing, or plucking. To learn more, schedule a free consultation at your local hair removal clinic; they’ll assess your skin tone before suggesting whether laser is an ideal choice.
It’s Not Convenient
Tattoos can be an amazing way to express yourself artistically, yet sometimes can be hard to remove. Traditional hair removal methods like shaving, plucking and waxing may leave your skin itchy and uncomfortable; their temporary results often not sustainable either. Laser hair removal provides a safe and permanent alternative; however it should only be used on areas without tattoos for optimal results.
Laser hair removal should not be recommended on tattooed areas due to the ink in a tattoo absorbing energy from laser light, which could result in blistering or changing its color – because heat from laser would not be able to distinguish between pigment from tattoo and pigment from skin cells.
Laser hair removal for areas containing tattoos can also be challenging as the practitioner must work around each tattoo in order to provide effective treatment, taking more time than expected and increasing discomfort for the patient while increasing risk.
To decrease the risk of damaging tattoos from laser treatment, it is wise to apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher before beginning laser therapy. Shaving should also take place prior to treatment and any self-tanners or tanning beds should not be applied within several weeks prior to your appointment date.
Before seeking laser hair removal, it’s also a wise move to consult with a dermatologist. They can help determine whether the procedure is suitable for your tattoos and skin tone as well as provide advice on how best to prepare. In general, alcohol and cigarettes should be avoided both the night before and the day of your procedure as well as any plucking, shaving, or skin-bleaching products being used prior to this time.
It’s Not the Best Option
Laser hair removal works by applying energy from a laser beam directly into your follicles, where pigment exists, in order to destroy it and stop hair growth. But since tattoo ink has different pigmentation than your natural skin tone, using laser hair removal on tattooed skin could damage both its ink and result in painful blisters from laser treatment; certified laser technicians advise people who have tattoos avoid laser hair removal for this reason.
Reasons behind this recommendation are straightforward. Laser hair removal targets the pigment in your natural skin color, meaning that when sending energy into hair follicles it could mistake tattoo ink for your own pigment and target both together simultaneously, leading to severe skin damage, burns, blistering, and potentially permanently ruining of tattoos!
Tattoo ink may fade or lose color over time, which can have an effect on how well laser treatments react with your body. As such, it is wise to wait until your tattoo has fully healed before having another laser treatment session done; and even then consult with a dermatologist first in order to make sure your skin can handle such treatments safely.
If you’re still interested in laser hair removal, alternative options exist. Instead of lasers, a cream that removes hair at its source may work instead. Make sure to test any such cream on a small area first! Additionally, always apply sunscreen after tattoo removal treatments in order to protect the tattooed area from UV radiation damage.
Before going ahead with laser hair removal, it’s essential that you consult with a dermatologist or laser technician first. They’ll assess your skin tone, tattoo ink color and hair color to make sure the treatment will be safe for you; in addition to providing pre- and post-treatment instructions to minimize risk.
