Is laser hair removal any more likely to irritate paler skin tones?

I am very fair skinned, but with mid-brown (rather than the more typical blonde or red) hair. I do not get freckles and find I tan (rather than burn) in all but the fiercest sun. Is there any any chance that laser hair removal may have more of an adverse effect on my skin? I realise the hair shaft is targeted during treatment, but advice about possible irritation to the surrounding skin would be great.
Asked by Ali-Rowley

5 answers

MaxiMedicare
Dear Ali-Rowley,
Fair skinned clients react very well to laser as the lack of melanin (colour) within the skin. If you also have brown to black hair laser would be perfect for you. But as with every client, the best machine for yourself is one that does not harm, irritate or burn the skin.
We at maximedicare Ltd have invested in the Soprano XL Pain-free , Hair-Free machine, so the clients are at ease with minimal risks and doctors on hand to over see every client at our clinic. Our machine can treat all skin types from the fairest to the darkest skin tone and still get the results you want.
-The laser we use will not damage any skin surrounding the area being treated as our machine has a cool-tip and the whole idea of the laser is to not burn the skin instantly but we do an in-motion action to gradually build heat to get better results.
We will be happy to answer any questions and have a look on our website. http://www.maximedicare.com
Or Telephone us on : 0121 264 5968 or 0121 773 0360
Search Treatwell for Laser Hair Removal near you
JennyONeill
Hello, IPL laser hair removal would be your best bet where the hair can be targetted and the surrounding skin be protected. It is very important that you are untanned for treatment. Take a look at our website under Epilight IPL which will give you lots of advice and before and after pictures. Also, make sure that you go to a clinic that is approved and registered with the Care Quality Commission and that Nurses or Doctors only do your treatment.
Hope this helps
jenny
traceybell
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a laser (an intense, pulsating beam of light) to remove unwanted hair. During laser hair removal, a laser beam passes through the skin to an individual hair follicle. The intense heat of the laser damages the hair follicle, which inhibits future hair growth.
Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair. It typically takes several laser hair removal treatments to provide an extended hair-free period. Treatment is done at different stages of hair growth to give long lasting results. Periodic maintenance treatments may be needed as well.
You are advised to visit a reputable clinic who are accredited with Care Quality Commission - who will offer a test patch on an inconspicuous area of skin to accurately test your reaction - you should be fine as long and skin has no tan (fake or real) at the time of treatment as this may cause pigmentation in the skin.
tink10
You sound like an ideal candidate for lazer hair removal it is not suitable for Black / dark skinned clients, alsoit is not suitable for grey / bleached hairs, that's the case with the system we use but i believe there are systems that can offer the treatment to the darker skinned. you would receive a full consultation before your treatment any way so dont worry it wont be done if its not suitable to you. :-)
Vidya
With any light therapy including laser and ipl treatment, most fair skinned patients can tolerate high intensity with minimal risk. This is because the fair skins do not have a lot of melanin. The fairer the skin, it reflects the energy minimising risks of reactions to the skin. Also, darker the hair, the energy is better absorbed by the hair. It is therefore possible to selectively treat hair but not cause any harm to the skin.