Laser hair removal is an effective solution for eliminating unwanted body hair and reducing discoloration caused by shaving, waxing or depilation. However, it’s essential to follow all pre and post treatment instructions for maximum efficacy.
Laser treatments work best on light skin and dark hair, though they may also help treat redness or blemishes.
Black Dots
Black dots may come as a shock, but it turns out they’re actually bundles of hair trapped beneath your skin. Unfortunately, as these hairs try to shed naturally they get trapped with oil, bacteria or dead skin; when this doesn’t happen naturally they create bumps similar to infected pimples that can only be effectively treated through laser hair removal.
Laser light energy absorbs pigment present in hair, which then destroys its follicle, stopping further hair growth as well as eliminating black spots caused by ingrown hairs.
if you are concerned with how your skin has looked post laser hair removal, we advise consulting a licensed esthetician or dermatologist. They can offer guidance as to what measures should be taken and suggest a solution specific to your skin type and condition.
Chemical peels can also help eliminate dark spots left from laser hair removal, with safe treatments being suitable for darker skin types and suitable for freckles, age spots, melasma and other pigmented areas. They work by exfoliating away outer layers of your skin in order to expose healthy, undamaged layers beneath.
Before your next laser hair removal session, avoid applying products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to the areas you intend to treat – these ingredients can increase sensitivity to laser light, increasing risk for burns or other side effects and making you more susceptible to burns and side effects from treatment.
After your first laser hair removal session, it’s common to experience pinkish or reddened skin. This is normal and should fade within several hours; additionally, the treated area might appear dry and flaky. If any discomfort, redness, or oozing develops from within this area – contact the provider who administered your treatment immediately; these symptoms could indicate infection that requires medical intervention.
If your strawberry legs have become an inconvenience, schedule an appointment at our Arlington Heights spa and speak with one of our experts about developing an individualized treatment plan to provide silky-smooth skin.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
People with darker skin types can suffer from post laser hyperpigmentation due to inflammation that arises during healing processes after laser treatments, causing dark spots that last from several days up to several weeks afterward but will gradually fade as your body naturally repairs from any damage done during laser sessions. It is essential to follow all instructions given by those administering the laser treatment in order to avoid prolonged dark areas, including avoiding sun exposure, applying moisturizers with sunscreen protection, using harsh skincare products carefully, keeping areas clean and hydrated, etc.
This condition can be brought on by acne, eczema or allergic reactions; or chemical peels, laser resurfacing or other cosmetic treatments like chemical peels. Most often it affects those with Fitzpatrick skin tones III to VI; but can occur on all complexions – and more likely to affect women with darker skin than men.
Hyperpigmentation after laser hair removal can be treated using various techniques, but dermatologist-recommended lightening cream is always the most effective approach. Look for products free from hydroquinone as this ingredient may be harmful to your health; alternatively, facial scrubs or chemical exfoliants containing AHAs like glycolic acid can also help minimize pigmentation by gently exfoliating away dead skin cells and dissolving them into solution.
Make use of natural ingredients like turmeric or tomato paste in facial masks made with natural ingredients, like turmeric and tomato paste, in order to combat hyperpigmentation caused by laser hair removal. Orchid extract may also work for this purpose and could serve as an effective serum. Alternatively, consider investing in a microdermabrasion machine which can gently exfoliate away top layer skin where dark patches exist to reveal healthy, brighter-looking skin beneath.
Dark Areas
Laser hair removal is an extremely safe procedure that is suitable for patients of all skin types, but some areas of skin may respond differently than others when exposed to laser treatment due to more pigment. Furthermore, some regions have higher concentrations of hair than others and this increases their susceptibility to dark spots after laser treatments; fortunately, however, they can easily be eliminated afterwards.
Post-treatment, the black dots you notice may or may not indicate new hair growth. If this is indeed the case, your new locks will eventually fall out on their own and fade over time; to speed this process up further use a loofah or scrub to exfoliate. Likewise if they’re simply dead hair then these too should go away naturally – premature removal could result in ingrown hairs or other irritations to skin.
Avoiding dark areas requires knowledge of their causes in order to help prevent their occurrence in the first place. One common source is improper laser treatment preparation: tanning should be avoided for two weeks prior to receiving laser treatments and broad spectrum SPF should be applied over all affected areas. It is also wise to refrain from plucking, waxing or electrolysis on these spots as these activities interfere with how effectively lasers target melanin molecules in hair follicles.
Dark spots left by laser hair removal can be an indicator of either hyperpigmentation or inflammation, both of which can be treated effectively by consulting with a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist experienced in laser treatment. Furthermore, it’s recommended to refrain from using products with acidic ingredients or benzoyl peroxide in the area that will be treated.
Laser hair removal side effects tend to be temporary and mild; if you experience any intense pain, redness, or oozing of skin after your laser session, please reach out immediately to the healthcare provider who administered your treatment as this could indicate infection or complications that require medical care.
Side Effects
If you are dissatisfied with the results of your laser hair removal treatment, it is essential to discuss it with the practitioner who performed your procedure in order to address and resolve any concerns and achieve optimal outcomes. They will be best equipped to assist in finding solutions to address them.
Laser hair removal may cause minor color changes in the skin that will gradually fade over time. People with lighter skin are likely to experience darker pigmentation while those with darker skin may see some lightening of treated areas; both changes should not cause concern as they are only temporary and should not affect quality of life.
After laser hair removal sessions, it’s not unusual for small black dots to appear on the surface of your skin. While these spots can be difficult to get rid of, they should usually be harmless as they represent dead hair still present on the surface that will eventually fall off on its own – or you can gently exfoliate with loofahs or scrubs in order to speed this process along.
Black spots could be caused by new hair growth, so it is essential to monitor the area carefully to ascertain this fact. New hair growth tends to be finer, lighter and less noticeable than existing ones – sometimes multiple sessions will be necessary in order to provide satisfactory solutions to unwanted hair growth issues.
Overall, laser hair removal is generally safe and effective treatment option for most people. To achieve maximum effectiveness it’s essential to find an experienced practitioner with knowledge about how the laser interacts with different skin types – this is particularly true for people with darker complexions. Misuse can result in burns, permanent tone changes, scarring or other serious adverse side effects; by following their recommendations pre-treatment can substantially lower risks associated with laser treatment.
