Laser hair removal involves disabling unwanted follicles of unwanted hair using light energy, with treatment taking anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour depending on the area being addressed.
After receiving treatment, your skin may feel itchy or appear swollen for some time after. Furthermore, the area could feel warm and red.
Many medications contain photosensitive compounds that could react adversely with UV light used for laser treatments. Therefore, it is imperative that a licensed medical laser technician is informed about all medication you are taking.
1. Allergies
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular beauty treatment to reduce unwanted body hair. It requires less upkeep than shaving, which may lead to cuts, razor burn, ingrown hairs and itching; and can minimize ingrown hairs, inflamed bumps and itching. Before proceeding with laser treatments near eyes or during pregnancy it’s wise to consult your physician first – some medical conditions make laser removal riskier such as history of keloids or poor wound healing, making laser treatment even riskier than shaving alone.
Certain medical conditions, like eczema or psoriasis, may make your skin react adversely to laser hair removal treatments. In order to treat one of these ailments effectively, medication might need to be taken prior to laser hair removal, or you might require alternative solutions instead.
Before considering laser therapy, it’s also advisable to speak to your physician regarding any medications you are currently taking. Certain antidepressants contain photosensitive compounds which could react adversely with laser treatment – Prozac, Zoloft and Vivactil are among these.
Prior to receiving laser treatment, it is advisable to avoid plucking or waxing in the area where you plan to receive it for at least six weeks, as these activities disturb hair follicles and could impede results. Furthermore, avoid sun exposure and using tanning products with UV rays since these may make targeting hair follicles harder for laser.
Your dermatologist may advise taking an anti-lightening medication prior to receiving laser treatment, since darker skin absorbs more of its heat and may not respond as effectively.
Before proceeding with laser hair removal at any unregulated med spas or clinics, it is wise to carefully investigate your practitioner’s credentials. Verify their extensive knowledge of laser technology as well as different types and temperatures of lasers; some people have suffered permanent disfigurement and other health complications when treated by unqualified practitioners.
2. Skin Conditions
Laser hair removal should not be undertaken if you suffer from skin conditions like keloids (scars that recur abnormally) or acne; laser treatments could exacerbate them further by opening up pores and leading to breakouts. If in doubt, consult with your physician.
People who are particularly sensitive to light, such as those with natural photosensitivity, should avoid laser hair removal as it can damage their skin. This includes those suffering from rosacea (red skin), lupus (an autoimmune disease in which immune system attacks healthy tissue) or porphyria, an inherited condition which leads to red blood cell breakdown.
Laser treatments should be avoided for those living with psoriasis as it can aggravate their condition and trigger further inflammation, leading to crusting or blistering of affected areas. Furthermore, it’s wise not to undergo laser treatments if you have dark or tanned skin as these could be further irritated by its treatment.
Pregnant women should avoid laser hair removal as its impact on their unborn fetus remains unknown. Furthermore, it should not be done if the individual suffers from hormone-related disorders that lead to excessive hair growth.
Women experiencing hormonal fluctuations during gestation may notice hairs growing on their nipples and belly in unexpected areas; though these hairs might subside after giving birth on their own, laser treatments would only make the situation worse.
Women who have a history of genital warts, chlamydia infection, scabies or any other infectious skin conditions should take extra caution when considering laser hair removal treatments as these could exacerbate any infections and lead to serious complications if untreated properly. Before selecting any laser hair removal practitioner make sure they are registered with a reputable body that checks qualifications, skill and insurance; otherwise it could put you at risk of an adverse reaction during or post procedure, with no recourse should something go wrong during your treatment plan.
3. Pregnancy
Due to hormonal changes during gestation, pregnant women often notice an unexpected surge in hair growth in areas they normally wouldn’t. What began as soft “peach fuzz” may morph into thick coarse hairs that grow faster than you can shave or pluck them – an understandable but frustrating occurrence when unwanted hair grows in areas harder for waxing or shaving.
While there have been no scientific studies conducted to test whether laser hair removal is safe for pregnant women, doctors tend to err on the side of caution. A highly concentrated laser beam could potentially harm an unborn fetus in ways scientists have yet to research. Furthermore, breastfeeding increases this risk significantly since breast milk could absorb its energy and pass it to its infant recipient.
Laser treatments pose risks to pregnant women as well. Aside from risks to their unborn fetuses, laser hair treatments may cause irritation and redness to the skin during a laser hair treatment session, which could take longer for pregnant women’s immune systems to heal after any burns they might incur during a laser hair session.
Since many topical anesthetics used during laser hair removal may cause adverse reactions for pregnant women, most dermatologists will not perform laser treatments while pregnant for safety purposes.
As soon as your hormones return to normal after childbirth, laser hair removal should be safe again. In the meantime, other safe solutions include shaving, waxing and tweezing – which can all remove unwanted hair effectively and safely.
Noting the difficulty of accurately anticipating the length and timing of a woman’s menstrual cycle may make scheduling laser hair removal during pregnancy more complex, leading some women to opt for safer methods instead.
4. Medications
Laser hair removal should not be performed on individuals suffering from keloid scars, severe histamine reactions such as urticaria or vitiligo (a condition that results in skin depigmentation), as well as those taking medications which make them sensitive to light (e.g. acne medications or herpes medications).
Laser hair removal uses laser light that absorbs pigments found within hair follicles to treat dark hairs, as it has proven more successful at targeting them than on lighter-colored scalps or lighter hair colors. Therefore, treatments tend to only work well on dark-haired individuals rather than blonde, gray or white locks or skin tones.
Before seeking laser hair removal, it is recommended to refrain from plucking or waxing the treatment area for six weeks prior to treatment as these actions remove pigments targeted by laser technology. Furthermore, UV rays could make laser treatment less effective.
Some individuals require multiple sessions in order to find an effective and lasting solution for unwanted hair growth. After several treatments, hairs that regrowth usually become finer and lighter over time or may even stop growing altogether.
After laser hair removal, it is essential that any unusual or bothersome symptoms be reported immediately to your practitioner for assessment and advice on whether continuing the treatment or considering alternative options is safe.
Laser hair removal is a straightforward, safe, and efficient way to eliminate unwanted hair for many. Unfortunately, though, not everyone may qualify as suitable candidates. In this blog post we explore medical reasons that might disqualify someone as candidates for laser treatment; so you can decide if laser hair removal is suitable for you. For more information about your options please reach out to Body Details today and book a consultation – our experienced practitioners are more than willing to assist in finding what will work best! We proudly provide laser hair removal to both men and women living within Houston metro area – contact us now so we look forward to speaking with you soon!
