Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?

By Ash 3rd August 2021 Category: Advice
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Medically reviewed by Regional Nurse Trainer Charlotte Lundy

Laser hair removal is the most effective method of hair removal available and can be used almost anywhere on the face and body. Unlike other methods commonly used, like shaving or waxing, laser hair removal gives long-lasting results. After a course of treatments hair will become finer, sparser and much less visible, as hair growth slows down each time you have the process carried out.

But if you’ve never had the procedure before, you are bound to have questions about your personal needs and requirements. Common questions are: is laser removal in a pubic area safe; is laser hair removal safe for pregnancy and is laser hair removal safe for dark skin?

This blog aims to answer your question and concerns about laser hair removal safety so that you can make an informed choice about having the treatment done.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Laser hair removal uses a powerful medical grade laser which is a source of light and heat. This beam is aimed at the hair follicles, bypassing the skin. Over several treatments individual hair follicles are permanently destroyed, preventing the hair from regrowing.

To disrupt the hair’s development cycle, it must be targeted at a certain point. As you begin your treatment, the individual hairs will be at different phases of their growth cycle. This is why you’ll need several sessions to treat the hairs at the right stage of growth. We usually recommend 6 to 8 appointments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.

Any side effects, like redness or skin irritation, usually dissipate in a couple of days at most and are easily soothed with an aloe vera-based gel or moisturiser.

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe for The Pubic/Bikini Area?

With any cosmetic procedure, there are always some risks – which is why it is so important to book a consultation with a highly skilled and qualified professional first before having any kind of treatment.

There is a small risk of skin colour changes, irritation, acne type breakouts or burns but, the positive news is that as the bikini/pubic area has not had as much sun exposure as other parts of the body, the chance of these kinds of side effects or complications is very small.

Any rumours you may have heard about laser hair removal causing infertility are untrue, as the laser penetrates less than a millimetre under your skin, certainly nowhere near your ovaries or anywhere else where damage could be caused.

If carried out by a highly trained expert, like our practitioners here at sk:n, the risks are minimal and the procedure is safe for the pubic area. We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, the same organisation that oversees hospitals and GP surgeries, so you can rest assured that our practitioners follow the safest policies.

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe For Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, there is an increase in hormone production in the body. You may experience high levels of estrogen and androgen that can cause hair to grow in places where you haven’t had hair before, especially in the third trimester. Pregnancy also changes the growth cycle of your hair, often delaying the ‘falling out’ phase of the cycle, meaning you have more and thicker hair. The hormones will rebalance and return to normal within 3 to 6 months of having a baby, and your hair will too.

Although lasers have been safely used to treat medical issues, such as kidney stones, during pregnancy, there have not been any studies carried out to confirm the safety of laser hair removal. As scientists don’t want to risk harm to mothers and babies by exposure to potentially harmful processes, it’s very unlikely that any research will be carried out to confirm if it is safe or not.

So, although laser hair removal is generally considered by doctors and dermatologists to be a safe procedure, they recommend that pregnant women avoid it as they don’t have the data to prove that it’s safe for them.

Our advice is to wait till after the baby is born and your hair growth has returned to normal.

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe For Dark Skin?

You may have heard that laser hair removal doesn’t work on dark skin tones, which was true in the past. But thanks to advances in technology people with dark skin can now successfully choose to have the treatment performed.

As mentioned above, laser hair removal works by targeting the hair follicles with light. The beam removes hair by targeting the pigment in each follicle. What can cause people with dark skin problems is that the laser might target the pigment (melanin) in your skin along with the hair shaft. This may cause hyperpigmentation – dark spots caused by excessive melanin production – or hypopigmentation, where the skin is lightened in patches.

This is why it’s important to go to a clinic that understands different skin colours and carries the right equipment. Ask our experts to do a patch test if you think you might be prone to hyper or hypopigmentation, just to be sure.

Sometimes people with dark skin may need more treatments too. Read our full blog on laser removal for dark skin here.

Key Takeaways
  • Laser hair removal is the most effective method of hair removal available and can be used almost anywhere on the face and body.
  • It is safe to have laser hair removal even on sensitive parts of the body like the face or bikini/pubic area.
  • Laser hair removal is NOT advised if you are pregnant as there is not enough research data to prove its safety in this situation.
  • People with dark skin are safe to have laser hair removal, but it’s important that they consult an expert with the right kind of laser equipment.
  • Sk:n clinics are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, so you can rest assured our clinics meet the strictest safety standards.

Find your nearest clinic and arrange a consultation with one of our dermatologists for advice on how laser hair removal can work for you.

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