Is Laser Hair Removal Safe for Dark Skin?

IN THIS ARTICLE

• How to prepare for laser hair removal
• The best laser for dark skin
• Things to do or avoid post-treatment
• Risks of laser hair removal on dark skin

You might not know this, but laser hair removal is a risky procedure in the past, especially for people of color. When scientists invented laser, aka. light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, they didn't take melanin into consideration. As a result, lasers provide optimal results for people with fair skin and dark hair. That is because lasers need a good contrast between skin and hair to operate. Which means, if you have dark skin and hair, the risk of severe burns is very high.

Yet the good news is that advanced laser tech made hair removal viable for dark skin tones. Diversity in the beauty community is growing, and it's definitely worth your attention. So let's find out the "how" and "why."

How to prepare for laser hair removal

If you are unsure about whether laser is your best hair removal option, check these things first. First of all, do your homework. You should find out about your laser expert's experience level. In your case, ask the person's knowledge about treating dark skin patients. If possible, ask to see image comparisons from other patients.

There is no need to free awkward because dark skin is vulnerable to laser burns. Moreover, don't hesitate about asking questions. It is a sign that you are interested in the procedure and that you care about it. Find out how many patients have your laser expert treated, or how long have the person worked with lasers. If they have social media, check how satisfied are their patients of color from the past.

That said, you must use pre-treatment care for your own safety. Which means, you need to check with your doctor on the meds you are taking. That is because ingredients that raises photosensitivity of your skin. Also, stop using any skin care products that contain AHAs/BHAs, retinol/retinoids, or salicylic acid. If you are using isotretinoin to treat acne, you cannot undergo laser treatment for at least 6 months. Otherwise, you will be at high risk of scarring.

In addition to meds check, you should also do a hair quality test. Let a medical professional perform the test in a discreet location and wait two days for the result. It is like an extra layer of safety net. So you can tell whether laser hair removal is an option for you. If the test says all clear, then you have nothing to worry about.

The best laser for dark skin

There are different types of laser, then which one is the best for dark skin? Before I answer that question, let me first explain how laser hair removal works. The laser relies on the contrast between the color of your skin and hair to operate. So that it can heat and damage the hair follicle to stop hair growth. That said, it easier to distinguish dark hair on light skin than on dark skin. Thanks to advanced laser tech, that caveat is gone. The Nd:YAG lasers can safely remove hair on dark skin.

The Nd:YAG is effective on dark skin because it doesn't rely on the contrast between colors. Instead, the laser can reach hair roots without the interference from skin pigment. In other words, the laser can distinguish hair from skin based on the level of depth. The Nd:YAG laser operates on a 1064 nm wavelength. Which means, it can penetrate 1064 nm deep in the skin. Whereas, other common lasers for hair removal operate between 700-800 nm. So they had to rely on melanin, aka. dark pigment, to find hair follicles. It's science, baby!

Things to do or avoid post-treatment

A typical laser hair removal treatment takes 3-6 sessions to complete. Which means, what you do through out the period can affect the final result. Some things you should do, but others you better avoid. Right after the laser session, you can see redness or swelling on the treated area. But don't worry, these symptoms are normal. You can ease the discomfort with a cool compress, aloe vera gel, or soothing cream. Keep using them for five days and the symptoms should go away. But if they persisted longer than a week, you need to see a doctor.

For your own wellness, you should refrain from extensive activities during skin recovery. For example, physical exercises are bad because they let you sweat a lot. You should not remove hair with tweezers, waxing, or depilatory cream, but shaving is okay. Moreover, you need to stay away from direct sunlight while doing outdoor activities. You should put on SPF30 sunscreen if you have to go out for whatever reasons.

Risks of laser hair removal on dark skin

Like I wrote in the beginning, darker skin is more sensitive than lighter skin. You can get severe skin burns if you didn't use the Nd:YAG laser. It is a fact because lawsuits related to laser injury is increasing in recent years. If you used the wrong wavelength or energy level, you might get discoloration on your skin. Laser hair removal for dark skin has been around for 2 decades. The treatment is safe and effective as long as the equipment is reliable. That said, at-home laser handsets might be worth a try. They are affordable and easy-to-use. The best part: you can use them as many times as you want – no extra charge!

Laser innovation advances

Individuals get an ever increasing number of choices accessible to some way or another upgrade their corrective look. Each and every time this occurs, there is a gigantic media publicity and everyone needs to jump aboard. With laser hair removal, this is the same. A many individuals are applauding it, others are cautioning about the potential dangers, risks and aftereffects. Without a doubt, there is a great deal of conversation happening about the masters and the cons of this kind of hair eliminating a medical procedure. This brings up issues, questions and fears.

You are by all account not the only one who is asking him/her-self whether or not this is protected. Truly, the vast majority do. So where do you illuminate yourself? At the point when you converse with individuals that are really offering a laser hair removal system, you know in your sub-conscience that these individuals have business interests. As a sensible outcome, their perspective on the strategy will one-sided in their own approval. It's smarter to get educated by a more unbiased source.

With laser hair removal medical procedure, a laser is pointed at the skin. The supported openness of the skin to the laser permits it to enter the skin profoundly. This will ultimately cause a warm response in the close to area of the hair follicle from which your hair develops. The hair follicle is annihilated and no more hair will develop from it. You will forever freed of your hair. In certain individuals, a couple of hairs develop back. However, for this situation, the laser hasn't hit sufficiently to the hair follicle. The system's definitive objective is to forever obliterate the hair roots.

Skin color differences

Assuming you have skin that is delicate to warm, you would advised to check with a dermatologist or a doctor to see if or not this methodology is ideal for you. On the off chance that you have an exceptionally touchy skin, you may get a red tone on your skin straightforwardly after a treatment. The response your touchy skin gives you is basically equivalent to when you get a tan and you coincidentally get scorched. This is valid for all kinds of people. Only sex is nothing but bad indicator of the secondary effects you may experience the ill effects of laser hair eliminating a medical procedure.

The shade of your skin is better utilized as an indicator for laser hair removal aftereffects. Assuming you have brown complexion, it is conceivable that the medical procedure will less successful for yourself and that you may get skin stains and rankling. Therefore you will seek a pre-treatment symptomatic, where a laser center advisor will examine you actually and afterward inform you on which type concerning laser hair eliminating treatment would create the best outcomes for you. So when you have quite recently gotten a decent sun tan, you should consider avoiding this treatment until the tan has generally disappeared.

There are numerous extremely durable hair removal techniques accessible today. Consider hair eliminating creams, electrolysis for hair removal and the epilight hair removal framework. Laser hair removal medical procedure is the one that catches everyone's eye, since it's simple, quick and produces super durable outcomes. Be that as it may, don't disregard the laser hair removal wellbeing issue. Ensure you know how you are treating you dive in!

What is IPL?

Laser hair removal process is an interaction wherein a specialist applies a low-energy laser to the skin where the patient's hair follicles found. It works by sending extreme throbbing light (IPL) down the hairs and wearing out the follicle. One needs to go through a few medicines, with the goal that hair doesn't develop back once more. In the greater part of the cases, the hair removal isn't extremely durable and the hair becomes back because of the heedlessness of individuals as they need to take upkeep medicines consistently, however they couldn't care less with regards to it and afterward endure. Laser hair removal is becoming extremely famous nowadays. This procedure generally misconstrued as long-lasting hair removal framework, however it is a hair decrease treatment. The laser innovation created during the seventies. Be that as it may, presently it's getting normal among individuals.

Melanin is a compound that gives out hair and skins its tone. The melanin focused on and the laser coordinated into the follicle and it in this way obliterates it. The laser treatment was not before viewed as appropriate for dull hairs on light complexion. In any case, presently even the red hair can dealt with which were once viewed as untreatable. The kind of a skin an individual is having and the shade of his hair decides how appropriate an individual is for laser hair removal.

IPL VS Laser

It's not difficult to go through laser treatment in the event that the patient is fair looking dull haired. Be that as it may, the issue happens assuming the patient is darker looking or light haired as the laser can only with significant effort recognize the hair and skin when such conditions exist. Various types of lasers utilized for various skin/hair mix like:

• Ruby: This is an obsolete hair removal framework as its aftereffects like consuming or color changes were extremely serious for individuals who didn't have white skin.
• Alexandrite: This is the best treatment, yet it is reasonable just for the light complexion.
• Beat Diode Array: This is near infra red light which is extending the skin type to a medium shaded skin.
• Ned YAG laser: This is reasonable for all skin tones, yet there is no proof which could demonstrate that it has dependable impacts.

New features

Laser hair removal innovation can diminish how much hair development by and large in individuals with the right hair/skin shading mix. It is a quick, effortless and economical interaction. It is an enduring long-lasting hair decrease strategy and more reasonable than other hair removal techniques like as shaving, waxing, or electrolysis.

The time-span for this interaction relies on the size of the area that is going through laser treatment. Little regions require lesser time span while bigger regions require additional time-frame. The time-length isn't excessively long as it makes the patient feel off kilter. After the treatment, one offered ice or different techniques for cooling the skin as it diminishes any distress and limits redness and expanding if any because of treatment. Then, at that point, it prescribed not to wax or cull the regions that have been dealt with. The no. of sittings needed to acquire long-lasting hair decrease contrast from one patient to another and furthermore upon the area to dealt with. For individuals with hazier skin and lighter hair, by and large more meetings required. In any case, for individuals with fair complexion and dim hair, lesser meetings are required.