Texas Cosmetic Dermatology Blog

Laser hair reduction has been performed for many years and If you are considering this treatment, you should be familiar with the following potential side effects. There are several lasers used for laser hair reduction and they all work by targeting pigment. Ideally an excellent candidate for laser hair reduction is a light skinned individual with dark hair.

1. Scars

While scarring can result from laser hair removal especially in dark skin, this side effect can be eliminated with use of the newer lasers and under supervision of an experienced Physician.

2. Eye Injury

Lasers can cause retinal damage and Laser eye safety is critical during treatment with lasers. To prevent Retinal damage , wavelength-specific laser safety goggles must be worn by the patient and the operator during the entire treatment.

3. Skin Burns

Skin burns are the most common side effect of laser hair removal and can vary in severity from superficial, mild burns to deeper, more severe burns. Superficial burns present as mild to moderate skin redness. Deeper burns can present as skin blistering or crusting.
The extent and severity of burns are determined by individual skin type, the type of laser used for hair reduction and the operator's experience with the treatment. Darker skin with darker, thicker hair is more easily burned. Alexandrite or long-pulsed ruby lasers are more likely to cause blistering or crusting of skin. An well trained operator working under supervision of an experienced Physician is able to modify the treatment parameters to reduce incidence and severity of skin burns and subsequent scarring

4. Darkening of tattoos

If there are any tattoos in the area of laser hair reduction the patient needs to know that these tattoos can potentially become darker with the laser treatment for hair reduction.

5. Pigment Changes

Darkening or hyper pigmentation of skin after laser hair reduction results from overheating the skin. It is more likely in darker skin and can be avoided in some but not all patients by choosing the right type of laser, reducing the energy and number of passes and taking measures to reduce skin burn like cooling, appropriate post treatment skin care etc. In my practice it is rare but does occur. I treat hyper pigmentation with a prescription skin lightener.

Hypo Pigmentation or lightening of skin can occur also more likely in dark or tanned skin Usually this is transient. It is more common with use of Alexandrite, Q-switched ruby and Nd:YAG lasers.

What should you look for when choosing your laser hair treatment?
Laser hair reduction has come a long way and is considered clinically safe procedure ONLY when done right; In our practice I see EVERY patient before starting the treatment. This ensures the following:
Evaluation of individual skin type
Determination of treatment parameters
Discussion of treatment expectations
Anticipation of any potential side effects, for example hyper pigmentation in African American skin types and need for possible prescription skin lightening

If you are interested in learning more about laser hair removal options in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
www.nailamalikmdskin.com

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The information on this Web site is provided by Naila Malik MD for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician. Only your doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site!
THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.

Laser hair removal is a technique that uses lasers to target the dark pigment (Melanin) in the hair follicles. The laser energy is absorbed by pigment in the hair follicles and destroys the hair. Laser hair removal is the second most commonly requested cosmetic procedure in the U.S , first being Botox Injections.

Advantages of laser hair removal :

Predictable Results: Almost ninety percent of patients have permanent hair reduction after an average of six to ten sessions.

Safety: The right type of laser with experienced medical personnel can selectively treat dark, coarse hairs with little or no damage to surrounding skin. Darker skin types should ALWAYS ask about Physician's and technician's experience with treating dark skin before signing up. I usually perform a "Test spot" on very dark skin before starting a full session to determine the suitability of Laser hair removal. Cooling skin with built in skin coolant or ice packs helps reduce incidence of skin burn and pain.

Speed: Newer lasers can accomplish a large area in a relatively short time. In my practice we treat each area two to three times for better results. The treatment area varies with each laser. Smaller areas such as the upper lip treatment may take three to five minutes, larger areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour. This includes cooling skin with built in skin cooler and or ice packs.

Pre-procedure Skin care for Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that may be associated with potential risks and requires adequate training to perform safely and effectively. Laser Hair removal should be supervised by a trained Physician. Before any procedure, you should thoroughly check the credentials of the Physician and technician performing the procedure.

I advise my patients to refrain from plucking or waxing for six weeks before their laser hair removal. I also advise my patients to limit direct sun exposure for six weeks before and after the treatment.

What to Expect During Laser Hair Removal?

We ask our patients to shave the area the day before their Laser hair removal. This makes the hair available just at the skin surface. For sensitive areas like underarm and bikini, we offer our patients a prescription numbing medication which they apply one hour prior to arrival. Upon arrival, your eyes are protected with the appropriate eye protection, we clean the area, apply ice packs and choose the laser settings. Our laser has a built in cooling head which further cools and protects the skin as we treat. Cool ultrasound gel is applied to skin and area is treated with the laser.We do two or three passes on each site depending on the area, hair and skin color

Post-Procedure Skin Care:
We clean the gel, apply aloe and SPF to the area and you can apply your make up in the office to tha area treated if needed. We sometimes use anti-inflammatory creme especially for darker skin types.Follow up session is scheduled between four to six weeks depending on the area .
For further information please visit our website call our office at 888-210-9693

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The information on this Web site is provided by Naila Malik MD for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician. Only your doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site!
THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.

Offer Cosmetic Dermatology, HCG Medical Weight Loss, Anti aging Hormone Replacement in and around Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, Fort Worth, Dallas, North Richland Hills Texas

Unwanted hair is of concern to many individuals. With the invention of photothermolysis and the development of various laser systems offering a range of wavelengths effective hair removal is within reach. We have patients of all different skin colors from all over Dallas Fort worth Metroplex.

There has been an exponential increase in the use of laser hair removal since the approval of lasers in 1996. Many advances in laser hair removal have been made since then.

Laser hair removal is accomplished through destruction of follicular unit. The ability to remove hair without damaging the surrounding skin is based on selective photothermolysis, which means, at a particular wavelength, pulse duration, and fluence, thermal injury is confined to a target that contains a light-absorbing molecule known as a chromophore.

Types Of Lasers For Hair Removal:

Laser-assisted hair removal is the most effective method of long-term hair removal . There are several hair removal systems : the Ruby Laser (694 nm), the Alexandrite Laser (755 nm), the Diode laser (810 nm), Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) source (590 to 1200 nm), and the Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) Laser (1064 nm), with or without the application of carbon suspension. The long-pulsed Alexandrite and the Long-pulsed Diode laser systems are more effective than the Nd:YAG laser. Some Lasers are more suitable for darker skin than others, Parameters of each laser system vary with patient skin type.

Laser and IPL technology now offer the potential for fast, safe, and effective treatment of unwanted hair. However, commercial claims often suggest that laser hair removal is free from side effects, which unfortunately is not accurate. The rate of complications is especially high with non Physician supervised treatments.

Laser assisted hair reduction is accomplished by one or more of the following mechanisms:

• photothermal destruction through localized heating


• Photomechanical destruction through the shock wave generation


• photochemical destruction through the formation of mediators such as singlet oxygen or free radicals.

Long-pulsed ruby (694 nm), long-pulsed alexandrite (755 nm), long-pulsed diode (810 nm), long-pulsed Nd:YAG (1064 nm), and intense-pulsed light, all cause hair follicle destruction through Photothermal injury. Radiofrequency also causes photothermal hair follicle destruction. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm), with or without the addition of a topical carbon suspension, causes hair destruction through Photomechanical injury.

Selective photothermolysis makes patients with light skin and dark hair an ideal laser hair removal candidate. Darker skin patients are more difficult to treat, and should seek a Physician experienced in treating dark skin patients for their laser hair removal treatment. Light hair is difficult to treat. Combination radiofrequency and optical devices as well as photodynamic therapy, is under investigation for blonde or white hair reduction.

Side effects from laser hair removal can be reduced through an understanding of the fundamentals of lasers. The goal of laser hair removal is to damage the stem cells in the bulge of the hair follicle by targeting melanin. The competing chromophores in the skin and hair, oxyhemoglobin and water, have a decreased absorption of thermal energy between 690 nm and 1000 nm, thus making this an ideal range for laser and light sources. In my Souhtlake Cosmetic Dermatology practice I use Long Pulsed Diode laser 810 nm effectively and safely for all skin types, Caucasian, Hispanic, Indian and African American.

Complications with Laser Hair Removal:

Common complications are scarring and pigmentary changes; less common complications include reticulate erythema and ocular complications . Treatments around the eye area should be performed with caution until further studies have been undertaken regarding the potential damage to the intraocular structures with this procedure.

Prevention of Complications:

Light absorption of the pigmented hair shaft and surrounding follicle is an important factor in hair removal; therefore, the patient should avoid plucking, waxing, or electrolysis before laser therapy. Shaving and bleaching the hair, which preserve the hair shaft, are okay but bleaching may make the procedure less effective.

The abundance of melanin in the epidermis of patients with dark skin color has been regarded as hazardous because of the increased incidence of side effects in this patient population. Similarly, sun avoidance should be emphasized, as a patient with tanned skin is at a higher risk of epidermal damage.

Post Treatment Care:

After treatment, Ice packs decrease pain and swelling. Topical corticosteroid creams can be used to minimize post treatment erythema and swelling; they also decrease the incidence and duration of hyperpigmentation. Antibiotic ointment is recommended if epidermal injury is noted. Patients should be advised to continue avoiding sun exposure. If epidermal injury has not occurred, makeup can be applied the day after treatment.
Conclusion

If you are considering laser hair removal, please call our office at 888-210-9693 for a consultation.

If you are interested in learning more about laser hair removal options in or around South lake, Colleyeville, Keller, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Arlington, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Denton and other areas around Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Please call our office at 888-210-9693 or visit our website at
www.nailamalikmdskin.com

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The information on this Web site is provided by Naila Malik MD for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician. Only your doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Site!
THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.