Hair Electrolysis Guide

As with all medical procedures, there is some risk for side effects when having laser hair removal treatments. The risks range from temporary and negligible to permanent and extreme. If you’re considering having laser hair removal treatments, you should be aware of the possibilities that you may experience side effects. If the side effects aren’t something you’re ok with, should they occur, you might want to seek out other methods of hair removal such as waxing or shaving.

However, if you’re comfortable with the possibility of side effects and want to find out more about them, then continue reading below where both temporary and permanent side effects are discussed.

Temporary Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal

Following are some temporary side effects that often accompany laser hair removal treatments. They usually subside with repeated treatments and are considered temporary because if the thing that causes them stops, they will soon go away.

Pain – When you think about what the procedure actually is, it makes sense that some pain will come with it. Using laser beams, your skin is burned to the hair follicles, severely damaging them to the point where they may no longer work. Thinking about it that way makes the treatment sound much more painful than it actually is, but when you’re being burned like that it seems obvious that pain will follow. It’s been described as a small stinging, burning pain that many people find tolerable but uncomfortable.

Swelling – Depending on the part of the body the treatment is applied to and the makeup of your skin, the amount of swelling will vary. Usually it will cause moderate discomfort on and around the treated area and will go away after a short time.

Skin Irritation/Redness – This side effect is no different than when you have your eyebrows plucked. There is usually a small amount of swelling and some redness or irritation throughout the affected area. It usually only lasts a few hours at most, but if it’s in a conspicuous area (like on the face), it can be annoying and embarrassing.

Blistering – No different than extreme sunburn, this side effect causes bubbling and peeling of the skin. It can potentially be the most serious of the temporary side effects if the blister is widespread and deep. Not only does it look bad, blistering can cause significant pain and lasts up to a week or more.

Permanent Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal

There is a possibility that laser hair removal treatments can cause you long-term or permanent damage. Although improvements are being made, the treatment is not 100% safe and things can go wrong. The potential permanent side effects are explained below.

Skin Discoloration – The lasers are designed to attack parts of the body with dark pigmentation, such as hair follicles. Unfortunately the lasers sometimes also affect the skin, especially those with darker colored skin. What happens then is a discoloration of the skin, affecting some or all of the treated area. This can be a concern for those who have the treatment on their face or large areas on their backs or legs.

Burning and Scarring – This side effect is rare, but sometimes occurs when the procedure is performed by an inexperienced technician. Burns are a more serious form of blistering that leaves scars most of the time. As with the concern of skin discoloration, burning and scarring can be a major issue for those who have visible and prominent parts of their bodies treated. Although creams and medications can be applied to reduce the effects, they rarely go away.

Anytime you’re considering some form of medical treatment it’s important to research the procedure thoroughly and ask your doctor questions regarding the safety and risk of the desired treatment. This website is intended to be a helpful resource, but not the decision maker. That part is left up to you and your doctor.