Laser hair removal is designed to destroy individual follicles through targeted laser light that targets dark pigment. If this procedure were applied over tattoos, however, its laser light could absorb into their ink pigment and lead to blistering, scarring and fading of their image.
Experienced practitioners are adept at working around tattoos by creating a template covering them and leaving 2-3cm between this and the area being lasered.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal can provide a safe and effective means of permanently eliminating unwanted hair without shaving, waxing or plucking. Furthermore, it can be an ideal solution for people who have tattoos but wish to protect their ink without harming it through overexposure to UV rays. So how does laser work? Simply put: lasers target pigment in your skin which, when it comes to hair follicles, targets this pigment. When it comes to tattoos however, however, their pigment differs significantly from this of your skin, making this laser approach less successful due to any such differences; thus becoming an obstacle for this method of targeting pigment ink itself and thus the laser becomes useless against its targeted pigment being targeted in hair follicles thereby becoming an obstacle against its targeting effect by UV light from laser.
Tattoos contain black pigment that differs from the natural hue of skin pigmentation. If a laser were to target these tattoos near other dark pigments such as hair follicles, such as ink pigment, it could cause complications when targeting these dark spots: heat from the laser would absorb into ink rather than skin tissue and cause severe scarring or even permanent damage to it.
Your practitioner will likely use a template to cover your tattoo before focusing their laser treatment on its surrounding skin. They should leave at least 2-3cm between your tattoo and any laser-treated areas in order to minimize damage to its ink.
Note that it takes significantly more treatments to remove a tattoo than it would to remove hair, as its ink is much darker and reacts differently with laser treatments. Furthermore, laser hair removal doesn’t have the same impactful results on tattoo removal as less invasive procedures such as microneedling or chemical peels would.
Does Laser Hair Removal Damage Tattoos?
Laser hair removal works by targeting pigment-rich cells within your hair follicles with a laser beam, heating and damaging them, eventually stopping their growth. Unfortunately, tattoos contain pigment which absorbs laser energy just as efficiently – this means if laser treatment was conducted on any area that includes artwork such as tattoos it could damage or fade their artwork significantly.
That is why it is imperative that laser hair removal be administered by an experienced practitioner who can recognize and avoid areas with tattoos. For this, consult with a dermatologist or laser hair removal specialist that offers free consultations and has vast experience treating people of different skin tones and colorations, including those with tattoos.
Before receiving laser hair reduction treatment, your practitioner will craft a template around your tattoo so it does not come into direct contact with the laser beam. They will draw a line across it as well as mark out an area to be lasered – this allows them to easily avoid tattooed areas when lasing begins and ensures you can enjoy permanent hair reduction without risking damaging or fading tattoos.
Even if laser hair removal is not suitable for you, other solutions exist that may help. Ingrown hair removers are effective solutions for eliminating unwanted hair growth; you can find these at many pharmacies. Furthermore, an electric razor could be used on your tattoos to remove hair more efficiently while simultaneously decreasing redness or irritation.
Laser hair removal is one of the most efficient and long-term ways to permanently reduce unwanted hair growth, but it may not be suitable for everyone. If you have tattoos and wish to undergo laser treatment, it is wise to first consult with a dermatologist or laser hair removal specialist in order to ascertain whether it would be safe and effective in terms of skin type compatibility.
Can I Get Laser Hair Removal Over My Tattoos?
Laser hair removal can be an excellent way to quickly eliminate unwanted body hair. However, tattoos should be noted as they can interfere with laser treatments due to being absorbed by ink pigment and absorb laser light resulting in serious burns and permanent scarring of skin tissue. As an alternative option to this technique, other non-laser methods of hair removal such as shaving, epilating or waxing may provide more reliable solutions.
Before seeking hair removal treatments on areas of your body with tattoos, it is crucial to consult a dermatologist or laser specialist in order to select an effective procedure tailored specifically to your skin type and tattoo color that won’t lead to discoloration or damage. Furthermore, these professionals may offer additional cosmetic treatments which may help remove hair without harming it further.
Tattooed skin contains thick layers of pigment that absorb laser light before it can reach hair follicles underneath. If laser light absorbs into this thick ink layer, there is a risk that its wavelengths could distort colors or burn through, possibly creating blistered patches on your skin that require healing time to return to their previous state.
An experienced laser hair removal practitioner should never perform treatment directly over an area with tattooed skin, creating instead a shielding template to protect it and only treat surrounding hair follicles for treatment. They may also employ cooling spray to reduce heat produced by their laser device.
If you have tattoos and are considering laser hair removal, it would be prudent to get them removed prior to beginning this process. This will ensure your new ink looks its best while providing an opportunity for full hair removal treatment as part of this plan. When complete, your ink should look smooth and hairless!
Are There Any Alternatives to Laser Hair Removal Over My Tattoos?
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular cosmetic treatment, providing long-term reduction and permanent removal of unwanted hair. Unfortunately, however, laser hair removal may damage tattoos located near where it is being done; laser works by targeting pigment in your skin – as tattoos contain pigment themselves, they could potentially be affected. There are ways you can ensure you don’t damage tattoos while reaping the benefits of laser hair removal without risking destruction to them.
First and foremost, make sure your tattooed areas are adequately covered so that hair follicles don’t come into contact with it and cause burning. A great way to do this is with an all-over body moisturiser equipped with SPF protection that can shield skin from unwanted effects like fading or scarring.
Numbing cream is another effective solution for covering tattoos before laser hair removal, providing comfort to the skin while alleviating pain or discomfort during sessions. Plus, its use before laser hair removal reduces risks like skin irritation or swelling that might arise as side effects.
Before opting for laser hair removal over tattoos, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist or specialist. They’ll assess your skin tone and color to help determine the most appropriate plan. In addition, they can offer helpful tips to prepare your skin prior to the procedure.
Finally, it’s wise to refrain from tattooing areas undergoing laser hair removal as this could lighten and fade the colors of any existing ink, leading to fade or bleeding. Furthermore, using any laser treatment not specifically approved for tattooed areas should never be attempted; safer options like electrolysis are more suitable when treating tattooed regions containing hair growth.
