Does laser hair removal cause scarring?

Laser hair removal is a billion dollar industry due to the demand of patients wanting to remove unwanted hair. Unwanted body hair can be embarrassing for several people. Popular culture drives many people to seek out laser hair removal or other hair removal options. Patients with eczema and psoriasis are comparable to patients with unwanted body hair, as their physical impairment can impact their social activities.

For most patients, laser hair removal is a permanent way to get rid of the unwanted body hair. There are hardly any side effects involved with laser hair removal; however going to the wrong facility can leave you with scarring. Laser procedures can cause scarring, but it depends upon a few variables:

• The type of laser being used.
• The experience of the doctor or laser technician. Always seek out a licensed provider when you are going in for laser hair removal. Unlicensed clinics do not have medical training and there is an increased risk of scarring.
• Your skin type will also play a role in determining your skins ability to scar. Darker skins with more melanin have an increased risk of scarring. There are different types of lasers that must be used on different types of skin. If the laser technician uses the wrong laser, it can burn the skin and cause scarring.
• Your skins ability to heal will also determine if you receive scarring. Since the laser will penetrate the skin and burn the hair follicle, the hair will be red and sore for a few minutes. If your skin is unable to heal quickly, you could have scarring.
• Some medications have been known to increase your risk of scarring. Accutane has been associated with scarring during laser hair removal treatments. Doctors recommend that you wait at least one year before having laser hair removal treatments if you have been taking Accutane.

Most patients will experience blotchy skin color for a few minutes. Darker skin types tend to have temporary pigment changes after the treatment, but it normally fades within a few days. In order for the skin to properly heal, it is important to minimize your exposure to the sun. Excessive sun exposure can damage the skin that is under treatments and it can make it harder for the laser to penetrate the melanin.

The most common reason patients experience scarring from laser hair removal is due to the poor training and lack of experience of staff members. There are over 2,000 medical spas offering laser hair removal, but not all of them have any certification on how to properly use the laser. Individual states have not established harsh rules on laser hair removal and it is not recognized as a medical procedure, even though it is. Poorly trained individuals are performing expensive procedures like laser hair removal and Botox injections. In order to prevent scarring from laser hair removal, it is important to seek out a certified facility.

How to find a good facility
Only a handful of states actually have requirements for laser hair removal to be practiced. Depending upon the state, a medical doctor may need to be in charge of all laser hair removal procedures. The nurse may assist the doctor, but the doctor is in charge of actually firing the laser. Some states allow the nurse or trained laser technician to use the laser as long as the doctor is in the office and oversees the procedure. Then there are the states that do not have any requirements and allow anyone to practice laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is a risky procedure if it is performed by the wrong person.

The laser technician needs to be licensed and certified in order to use the machine. Always request that an actual doctor performs your procedure or ask for the doctor to be present during the procedure. If a laser technician or nurse is performing the laser hair removal, ask about their knowledge of the laser hair removal industry. The technician needs to be well rehearsed in basic laser physics, biology, hair growth cycles, and laser safety issues. If the laser is used improperly, it can cause severe damage to the eyes and skin. Eye protection should always be worn when you are being treated.

Common symptoms from laser hair removal
A typical laser hair removal session will leave the patient with soreness or redness in the area that was treated. The skin should return to its normal state within a few hours. Individuals that have experienced problems with laser hair removal generally have problems because the technician was improperly trained or was not certified. If the technician wants to raise the intensity of the laser, you may end up with redness and swelling for several days. Ask for a doctor to come in if you feel that the technician is not aware of what they are doing. If you experience swelling and redness for more than 10 days, seek medical care. After the redness and swelling is over, patients run the risk of the area blistering and scabbing. The skin will eventually fall off, however the area may be tender to touch and the skin may be a brown/red color for a few weeks.

Treatments for scarring
If you have experienced scarring as a result of laser hair removal, try using moisturizer on the skin for several days. Lotions like the brand, Keri, can help soothe the damaged skin and allow it to heal faster. Hydrocortisone cream is also helpful for treating burns and scars as a result of laser hair removal. Aloe is another great lotion to use if you have burned skin. Drink plenty of water as it will help the body to stay hydrated. Burned skin will cause the body to lose more water and is a sign of dehydration. Generally the scars from laser wounds will heal within a few weeks. If your scars have lasted longer than 3 weeks, you need to consult your doctor for medical attention.

Some scars may turn the skin a grayish-white color, while others look dark red and inflamed. The burn results on the skin because the hair follicle did not absorb the energy of the laser. This may be due to the skin pigment being tanned, or the wrong laser was used. Properly trained laser technicians and medical doctors will be able to select the appropriate laser to avoid burning the skin of the patient.

Some patients leave the facility feeling like their skin is burning. The pain can last for days, even weeks. If you leave the facility and your skin is hurting, immediately apply a cold compress on the skin for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, take it off and allow the skin to rest for 10 minutes. Repeat the cold compress for at least an hour. If you are still experiencing burning pain, grab some milk and dip a cotton ball into it. Apply the cotton ball on the burned skin and allow it to soak in, continue re-applying milk to the skin every 20 minutes. Milk will cool the skin and help to soothe the pain of the burn.

If you have scarring or burned skin as a result of laser hair removal, avoid exposing the damaged skin to the sun. The sun will cause the skin to blister and possibly cause long-term damage to the skin. Cover the area well so that the sun cannot penetrate through your clothing and reach the damaged skin. If the burned skin is starting to crack and blister, use some honey to cover the damaged skin. Honey will help the skin stay free from infections and other bacteria that may try to penetrate the damaged skin.

It is important to understand all of the risks associated with laser hair removal before you undergo treatment. Talk to your doctor about their credentials and the experience they have with the laser hair removal machine. Individuals with darker skin are more likely to receive skin pigment changes or laser burns. The darker the skin pigment, the more light it absorbs from the laser. If you have lighter skin, but it is tanned, wait for the tan to fade before going in for treatments. Laser hair removal works best on the patients with light skin and dark hair.

Always check the credentials of the facility before going in for treatments. The majority of burns and scars come as a result of improperly trained laser technicians. Prices that are too low are a good indication that the facility does not have licensing or certification and they do not hold their work up to a certain standard. Word of mouth is the best way to find a good laser hair removal facility. If you have friends or family members that have received laser hair removal and have had good results; that is the best place to start. Check with your state licensing department to find out if your state holds laser hair removal technicians to a standard and if they need to be certified in order to practice.