Tattoos are an expressive way of showing off your individuality and style. Although shaving, plucking, and waxing may provide temporary solutions for unwanted hair reduction, these methods often leave behind unsightly patches of skin.
Laser technology cannot tell the difference between hair follicle pigment and tattoo ink, leading to irreparable skin damage and scarring.
How Does It Work?
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive solution to unwanted body hair. Laser light penetrates the skin and targets pigment in hair follicles to damage or destroy them, stopping further hair growth. Furthermore, this procedure may reduce or lessen color of remaining hair making it less noticeable; any new growth that does return usually regrews lighter and finer. Ultimately this results in smoother skin with fewer unwanted hairs.
As part of your treatment, your dermatologist will use protective goggles to shield your eyes from the laser’s light beam and will apply topical pain-relief gel prior to beginning the procedure; most people describe its sensation as similar to sunburn. For larger areas of body they might even recommend topical anesthetic for added comfort.
Your dermatologist will then use a hand-held device to pass over the targeted skin area, measuring and targeting each hair follicle with laser light before vaporizing both it and surrounding skin by creating a plume of smoke with an unpleasant sulfurous odor. Depending on the size of the area being targeted, this process may take anywhere between minutes and an hour or longer.
After receiving your treatment, your skin may appear red and tender – much like that seen after sunburn – for several days following. Your dermatologist may suggest cooling compresses to alleviate discomfort; also they might suggest avoiding direct sunlight and using SPF 30+ sun protection products on your skin to further minimise itching and reddening.
Laser hair removal treatments may initially cause temporary hair loss; however, over time many patients experience permanent reduction in density or complete hair removal. To achieve these results, multiple sessions need to be administered at four to six week intervals with any necessary follow up appointments being yearly touch ups.
Laser hair removal tends to produce much lighter and less noticeable hair growth after treatment; for more information about laser hair removal consult a dermatologist or hair removal specialist.
What Are the Side Effects?
Laser hair removal can be safely performed on most people, however before undergoing the procedure it is wise to consult a cosmetic professional to discuss potential risks and suitability of treatment for you personally. They will assess your medical history, skin tone and determine if laser hair removal will work effectively for you. As the laser heat damages hair follicles, you may experience a tingling sensation during laser treatment. Some describe it as small stings while others detect an aroma similar to smoke and burning hair. Treatment time will depend on the area being treated, typically taking from several minutes to an hour depending on its complexity. After your session, the area might appear reddened and swollen – this is completely normal and will subside as the area heals. Avoid direct sunlight for at least 24 hours following treatment to reduce skin discoloration caused by ultraviolet radiation exposure.
Tattoos are artistic works etched onto our skin that express our individuality, but sometimes we become dissatisfied with our original tattoo designs over time and would like them removed. Laser hair removal is a popular and effective solution, yet may damage your tattoo permanently.
Tattoo pigments differ significantly from melanin found in your hair, and when used for laser hair removal, an Alexandrite or YAG laser may cause burns and bleeds as it works its magic on tattoo ink pigments. Furthermore, swelling and blistering may occur, altering its appearance after healing is complete.
Treating tattoos with laser hair removal would be impossible and potentially hazardous; using similar lasers for both procedures could result in scarring, blistering and burns that would require permanent care to repair.
Tattoo pigments differ from hair follicle pigments in that they absorb light differently and don’t interfere with laser energy being delivered through skin pores, therefore keeping tattoo ink protected by laser energy from being destroyed during treatment. If you plan to undergo laser hair removal as well as tattoo removal at once, it would be prudent to consult a specialist in both areas prior to beginning treatments.
What Can I Do?
Laser hair removal is a popular cosmetic treatment used to permanently eliminate unwanted body hair in targeted areas of the body. Compared with shaving, plucking or waxing, it offers more convenient results that last much longer. However, laser treatments should be undertaken carefully near tattooed skin as they could potentially damage ink as well as cause other side effects.
Tattoos are pieces of artwork etched directly onto your skin that allow you to express yourself creatively in an expressive and distinctive manner. Tattoos also provide an effective solution for eliminating unwanted hair if shaving and plucking becomes tiresome, and often leave unsightly stubble behind.
Laser hair removal may be effective at reducing or eliminating unwanted hair, but performing it over a tattoo should never be performed. Lasers produce light and heat that can damage any dark pigmentation such as tattoo ink causing blistering, scarring or even changing its color permanently.
However, there are steps you can take when seeking laser hair removal to minimize this risk. Consult a dermatologist beforehand, as well as select a clinic with experienced laser technicians; these professionals will be able to advise on potential risks related to treating tattoos with laser.
As with laser hair removal treatments, new or healing tattoos should not be exposed to heat and light from laser treatments until they have fully recovered from healing. It is therefore wise to wait until their healing has occurred before engaging in laser hair removal treatments.
If you want a long-term solution to unwanted hair, electrolysis could be the perfect option. Electrolysis is the only approved hair removal technique that will remove hair without altering skin tone or creating other side effects; and since it can safely be performed over tattoos too, electrolysis offers more than shaving or waxing alone.
What Can I Avoid?
Laser hair removal is a popular cosmetic treatment used to eliminate unwanted hair by harnessing light energy to target melanin in the skin and destroy its associated hair follicles. While many opt for this procedure to get rid of unwanted strands, it is important that those considering getting this done understand its potential effects on tattoos as this procedure could damage them during its administration.
Laser hair removal should always be used cautiously near tattoos to avoid severe damage to your body art. Lasers used for hair removal cannot distinguish between dark pigment from tattoos and pigment in your skin, and so if they were used on tattoos it can lighten, damage tissue surrounding them, and potentially even cause third degree burns in extreme cases.
Laser for tattoo removal should only be attempted after you’ve undergone treatment and your skin has healed, and only with professional assistance from dermatologists and certified laser technicians. They will assess your skin tone, hair color and any concerns or limitations they might see as relevant during their consultations.
Some individuals choose laser hair removal because they prefer having smooth skin without tattoos. However, this procedure leaves your tattoo vulnerable to external aggressors and sun damage; to protect it properly during outdoor activity you should use high SPF sunscreen protection.
Precautions that you should take before beginning laser hair removal treatments include shaving the area to help decrease blisters and scarring risk; you could also apply topical anesthetic cream for pain reduction during treatments.
Cutting, waxing and shaving may work to eliminate unwanted hair but they require constant upkeep to remain effective. As more and more people opt for tattoos as body art, laser hair removal has become a safe and efficient solution to rid themselves of unwanted body hair without negatively affecting body art designs.
