Unwanted hair growth around moles is an extremely common problem for many individuals. Traditional methods such as waxing or shaving may cause discomfort; laser hair removal offers a safe and reliable alternative.
However, some patients worry that laser treatments could damage or alter the mole. There’s no evidence to support that laser treatments increase risk for skin cancer or turn melanomas into melanomas.
Damage to Molanin
Laser hair removal works by targeting pigment in hair follicles; when a laser beam hits an extra-pigmented mole, this may result in burns to its surface.
Reason being, excess pigment absorbs laser energy and heats up, disintegrating, and then leaving an itchy scab behind on the area that forms a crust over it. Although discomfort may arise during this period of time, eventually all will subside.
These treatments may also damage proteins that bind mole cells together, potentially causing them to spread or regress and form new moles. Therefore, it is crucial that any new or changing moles treated with laser are examined by medical professionals as soon as they occur, particularly after being laser treated.
Sometimes physicians will suggest having their client have their mole removed due to its risk of becoming cancerous; while in other instances the client simply wishes for its removal for cosmetic or other reasons.
Most often, clients can proceed with mole removal treatment without fear of complications; however, in cases where moles are situated within an already larger nevus or are darker than surrounding skin tone they could pose greater risks and it may not be possible to treat with as much accuracy.
In such instances, doctors may provide other treatments or refer their client to a dermatologist. Following treatment for the mole, clients should avoid direct sunlight and apply high-SPF sunscreen to protect the area after treatment in order to decrease chances of recurrence and stop it becoming darker again. Furthermore, regular follow-up appointments are advised in order to detect and address any recurrences as quickly as possible.
Damage to Cells
Moles are benign (non-cancerous) growths composed of melanocytes (pigment cells). At Perfection Cosmetics, our laser hair removal method utilizes highly concentrated light energy that targets pigment cells to destroy hair follicles and stop further hair regrowth. However, this same energy may damage areas with darker skin tones including moles; this may change their appearance or make them seem more suspicious and necessitate removal or biopsy for possible melanoma as it could indicate cancerous cells being present inside.
Risk is low as our laser has been specifically tailored to target dark matter like melanin without penetrating deeper layers of your skin where moles exist. Still, light from laser may trigger an adverse reaction for people with dark skin or hair or due to using a numbing cream before treatment.
Damage caused by laser can sometimes result in the formation of a scab around a mole, but this should go away on its own without major problems arising – often within several days or so.
Laser hair removal does not appear to cause dysplastic or atypical moles to transform into malignancies; however, any DNA mutations leading to melanoma occur over time and have yet to manifest themselves as skin cancers. If one of your moles damaged by laser treatment has changed its appearance (darkened significantly, developed uneven edges, had multiple colors or crusty patches), medical advice should be sought immediately and it checked.
If your mole has changed appearance or has any other cause for concern, it is always advisable to visit a dermatologist or surgeon and get it checked out. They can advise whether or not the mole is harmful and provide appropriate solutions.
Change in Appearance
Laser hair removal works by targeting pigment found in hair follicles of your skin and absorbing into them, which destroys and stops them from growing back. Unfortunately, if there are moles nearby the laser may accidentally burn them as well and leave darkened crusted spots or dark scabbing on your surface skin, making you itchy and painful – however this typically goes away within two to four weeks and the site can be protected with a small dressing until its scab falls off.
Avoid this by following your practitioner’s advice about how to prepare for and undergo laser treatment on your skin, such as avoiding direct sun exposure. Furthermore, selecting someone listed on a register of cosmetic practitioners ensures they meet set standards in terms of training, skill, and qualifications; alternatively choosing someone not on such register could increase your risk of experiencing side effects like scarring and blistering that can significantly alter results.
As soon as your mole scab falls off, its treatment site may appear paler than before. It is essential that at least SPF 30 sunscreen be applied frequently on this area for at least six months in order to prevent sun damage to the skin.
Some individuals’ skin colors may temporarily change after laser hair removal, though this effect should wear off over time. People with darker complexions are at increased risk for experiencing this side effect but anyone may experience it.
There have been concerns that laser treatment of moles may result in them becoming cancerous, but this is highly unlikely. Should any mole change its appearance or size significantly, it is imperative that it is seen to by a medical practitioner immediately, for physical examination and full medical history review. It is especially important that any suspicious moles characterized by their atypical features (asymmetrical shape, larger size, multiple colors or pebbly texture) be reported immediately for closer evaluation by your healthcare provider.
Cancer Risk
Laser hair removal relies on laser light to target and vaporize hair follicles, leaving behind light-colored skin as the pigment disappears. If a mole contains more pigment than surrounding tissue, laser light could absorb into it and damage or change its color; therefore it is imperative that each physician have experience in using lasers before developing an appropriate treatment plan for his/her patients.
Most moles are harmless and should not cause alarm; however, some may exhibit precancerous features and physicians may suggest having them removed to safeguard the client’s safety or for cosmetic reasons if located in an undesirable place on the body.
There are various methods for extracting moles. Laser removal is one of the fastest and simplest solutions, using high intensity bursts of light to break apart pigment clusters within a mole. The procedure is completely pain-free with no residual scarring afterward.
Moles may also be removed via shaving, tweezing and waxing; although these methods may cause mild skin irritation for a short time they should not damage or alter the mole.
Liquid nitrogen or surgical removal of moles may also be options to remove them; with either method involving numbing the area before cutting away with a scalpel to cut away at least some of the skin surrounding the mole. The latter approach is often preferred if there is suspicion that it might turn cancerous in future or has already formed into melanomas.
Moles typically appear darker than their surroundings and laser light should not damage or alter them significantly; however, it could affect surrounding skin in an inconvenient and itchy manner. It should not be used to remove hair from moles as this increases risk of damage or altering their shape.
