Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular cosmetic treatment to rid oneself of unwanted body hair, yet some individuals worry if this procedure will harm any tattoos they wish to keep.
As it turns out, the answer to that question is no – provided the laser light doesn’t touch your tattoo directly.
1. You’ll Be More Confident
Laser hair removal is a safe, efficient method to remove unwanted hair. It uses high-energy light beams to target pigment in hair follicles, permanently dissolving them and halting future hair growth. Though treatment may cause some pain and discomfort, most can be managed using cooling sprays or gels; and the process generally lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour depending on its size and depth of coverage.
Before your session begins, a medical specialist will clean the area and apply any necessary numbing gel. They will then focus a laser beam onto your desired body part, and you may feel what feels like multiple stings from it. Protective eyewear must be worn during this procedure as laser light could potentially harm your eyes.
At your consultation appointment, it’s important to inform your practitioner about any tattoos you have, skin conditions or medications you are taking as well as tanning beds you frequent as well as shaving the area being treated two to three days before your appointment. This information will allow them to select the most effective laser technology and settings tailored specifically for you. During treatment itself, tanning beds must be avoided to allow optimal laser technology and settings suited to you and any sun protection should be observed as much as possible; tanning beds should also be avoided to minimize tanning bed exposure during treatment sessions if possible – this ensures optimal laser settings can be chosen tailored specifically to suit individual patients needs. To prepare for treatment, shave two to three days in advance in order to prepare.
People often wonder whether laser hair removal will have any effect on their tattoos, but the short answer is no. This is due to tattoo ink not having similar pigmentation to hair follicles so lasers cannot distinguish between the two and cause blistering or scarring of tattoos as well as damage them permanently.
Laser hair removal can still be beneficial in areas of your body that have yet to be tattooed, however. Your nurse or laser technician will create a template of the tattoo so they can safely and efficiently laser the rest of your skin without damaging or discoloring it further. Plus, this saves you from ever having to wax or shave again in the future!
2. You’ll Be More Prepared
If you are considering getting a tattoo in the near future, laser hair removal could provide a permanent solution to unwanted body hair that allows you to avoid shaving and waxing altogether.
Before opting for laser hair removal, it is important to visit a dermatologist. He or she will assess your skin tone and advise you on which treatments and methods would be suitable for you.
Laser technicians will discuss the tattooed area with you and ensure a safe distance of 2-3 centimeters between their treatment area and your tattoo, to prevent its effects from being affected by laser treatment as well as any blistering or scarring from taking place.
Before your laser treatment appointment, it’s also essential that you avoid tanning or sun exposure in the area where your tattoo exists. This will lower the risk of any unwanted changes to its color and ensure it remains as dark and vibrant as possible for as long as possible.
Laser hair removal can be an effective and safe solution, though improper preparation could result in blistering and other adverse side effects. To ensure maximum safety and efficacy of treatment, it’s crucial to find a reputable clinic with skilled and experienced technicians.
People are understandably uncertain whether laser hair removal will impact their tattoos, and understandably so. Since hair removal lasers rely on distinguishing between the pigment of each follicle and surrounding skin for successful hair removal, they won’t be able to distinguish the ink used in your tattoo and natural pigment found within it; this could result in blisters or other complications; thus it’s essential to find a clinic with certified and experienced technicians who know exactly what they’re doing before proceeding with hair removal treatments.
Laser hair removal can be an ideal solution for anyone who’s tired of shaving and waxing, but especially beneficial to those considering tattoos. By going through laser hair removal before getting tattooed, it will increase confidence and comfort in making cosmetic decisions more freely and comfortably.
3. You’ll Be More Comfortable
Laser hair removal is an effective solution for getting rid of unwanted body hair. While it can be used on any area of the body, laser treatment works particularly well on areas where more hair grows than others. Laser can save both time and money when it comes to shaving, waxing or other methods for hair removal.
However, it’s essential that those with tattoos be aware that laser treatments may adversely impact them and should consult a dermatologist prior to going ahead with laser hair removal if there are concerns regarding its impact on both their skin tone and tattoos.
Laser treatment may result in changes to your skin’s pigment, leading to discoloration or even altering tattoos by dissolving their pigment or darkening or lightening them over time. Tattoos contain ink that requires energy for decomposing; therefore if you have one and decide to undergo laser hair removal later, wait until after its fully healed before commencing treatment as this could significantly diminish its impact.
Laser hair removal should also come first if you want a tattoo because it will enable you to use the treatment on hair-free skin, giving your new tattoo the look and feel it deserves while making sure you’re satisfied with its results.
After receiving a tattoo, using laser hair removal may still be possible but may prove more challenging and produce inferior results. Care must be taken when covering up the tattoo using shields or alternative hair removal methods that don’t involve laser.
Tattoo removal should never come before laser hair removal as this cannot be accomplished without damaging the ink. Lasers used for tattoo removal are much stronger than those used in laser hair removal and will damage your tattoo. If you already have one and decide to go ahead with laser hair removal anyway, talk with your technician about covering that area with a shield before proceeding with treatment.
4. You’ll Be More Convinced
Laser hair removal works by disabling the hair follicle so it cannot produce hair again. Your doctor will use a handheld device against your skin to trigger the laser, with each session lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on its effectiveness and your area being targeted. Following each session you may experience redness or raised rashes; to reduce them use an ice pack regularly on the area being lasered – or ask your doctor for medication such as topical steroid creams as pain relief options.
Laser hair removal typically causes less discomfort than other hair-removal options, like shaving. Shaving can irritate skin and cause nicks, cuts and razor burn; in comparison, laser hair removal feels similar to being pinched by an insect sting. Furthermore, its maintenance requirements are lower than other techniques, which typically require multiple appointments and treatments over time.
Laser hair removal is generally safe, though it is essential that all potential risks and complications of treatment are fully understood prior to beginning any therapy. Lasers can potentially harm those with darker skin tones, those who have had skin cancer or eczema before, as well as those taking certain anti-inflammatory drugs or acne treatments; your physician will discuss any potential issues and risks before performing the procedure.
Can You Have Laser Hair Removal After Receiving a Tattoo? In general, laser hair removal after having a tattoo is generally safe, however to get optimal results it’s recommended that your appointment for tattooing take place after all hair-removal treatments have concluded and then scheduling it separately as this way you will maximize results from both treatments.
After laser hair removal, any remaining hair in the area may make it more challenging to clear away. This could result in inconsistency within your inked design; therefore it’s wiser to wait until all treatments have been completed before considering getting a tattoo.
Laser hair removal may not be suitable for all tattoo ink colors and types; dyes and pigments found in certain ink may react adversely with laser energy, leading to discoloration or fade of your tattoo. Your doctor can inform you if this is indeed your situation, in which case any treatments in that treatment area must be avoided.
