Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular cosmetic treatment to permanently rid unwanted body hair, with proven success when carried out by an experienced dermatologist or technician. When properly performed by either, laser hair removal should be completely safe.
However, laser hair removal should never be performed over tattoos as this can damage and discolor them – we will discuss why later.
It’s Not a Good Idea
Laser hair removal has quickly become a popular cosmetic treatment among those tired of shaving, waxing and plucking unwanted body hair. The technique employs laser light to target melanin in hair follicles and destroy them permanently to stop new growth from returning. Unfortunately, however, lasers used in hair removal treatments also damage tattoo pigmentation; many individuals now wonder whether it is safe to undergo laser hair removal over an existing tattoo.
No, however the reason may not be immediately evident. The issue lies with how laser hair removal cannot distinguish between ink and hair follicles and thus leads to serious burns and skin damage. There have been multiple reports of people being burned by unregulated clinics or untrained employees conducting laser hair removal over tattoos resulting in severe burns that require hospitalization for treatment.
Laser tattoo removal should be avoided because it risks skin damage and could completely alter the artwork of a tattoo. Although you could attempt to cover up your tattoo using fabric or another protective measure, this will impede its efficacy of treatment and decrease efficacy overall. For optimal results it would be best to consult a trained dermatologist first for hair removal from this area before getting laser removal over your tattoos.
Electrolysis offers another viable option to safely remove excess body hair without harming tattoos: electrolysis is one viable solution that may work better for those looking to avoid burning their tattoos while still getting rid of unwanted body hair. Although laser hair removal takes a bit longer than other options, its results are long-lasting and will provide smooth and hair-free skin for years! Tweezing or threading may also work effectively in this regard. However, it should be remembered that these methods do not last as long and may need to be repeated frequently. Therefore, for optimal results it would be best to hire a professional laser hair removal service using state-of-the-art laser technology in order to achieve smooth skin.
It Can Damage the Tattoo
Laser hair removal is a popular cosmetic procedure to permanently eradicate unwanted body hair. It offers a convenient alternative to waxing, shaving, and depilatory creams; however, some individuals worry that laser treatment could damage tattoos.
Lasers work by targeting pigments in the skin and turning them into thermal energy for destruction. Unfortunately, tattoos present unique challenges when applied with lasers as their ink pigment is much closer to the surface than natural hair pigmentation and more dense than usual; in order to use a laser on one of these areas would require much stronger lasers, possibly leading to permanent skin damage or scarring if performed improperly.
While laser hair removal is generally safe for most body areas, it should never be performed over a tattoo, no matter if it is new or old. Doing so could potentially damage the artwork and lighten or fade its color over time.
Reports in the press have surfaced of unregulated clinics or under-trained employees performing laser hair removal over tattoos, which caused third-degree burns that required hospitalization.
Laser treatment poses many potential complications beyond just burning the tattoo, including blisters and scarring. Furthermore, it may alter its color or texture after treatment which may lead to bleeding and scabbing as well as bleeding in scabbing sites.
While it’s true that laser hair removal may cause some damage to tattooed skin, there are other treatments which are safer – electrolysis being one such example – which work by targeting individual hair follicles to be less harsh or damaging than laser treatment. Furthermore, chemical peels and microdermabrasion may also provide safe options that help achieve the results you are after.
It Can Discolor the Tattoo
Laser hair removal is a popular cosmetic procedure that uses laser technology to target individual hair follicles and prevent their growth, offering an effective alternative to shaving, waxing, or depilation creams. Many individuals who undergo this treatment worry about how it might impact tattoos they’ve already got – they allow individuals to express themselves artistically with permanent pieces of artwork such as tattoos. Unfortunately, using laser hair removal over an existing tattoo could cause it to fade or even discolor significantly – something many find undesirable.
Laser hair removal can be safe and effective on most body parts; however, it should not be done on areas containing tattoos as laser light cannot differentiate between tattoo pigments and that of surrounding skin pigmentation. Tattoo ink could absorb heat from laser radiation and cause permanent damage.
Laser treatments may cause scarring that alters or lightens a tattoo’s colors, so professional tattoo removal should always be sought before trying laser hair removal over one.
Tattoos are an expression of self-expression and should be treated as such when it comes to personal hygiene. While shaving, plucking and waxing may temporarily remove unwanted hairs, they don’t provide a long-term solution and may cause irritations and inflammation on larger body areas where hair growth is more abundant – which is why so many turn to laser hair removal as an alternative – its more permanent solution provides long-term and more permanent relief than regular solutions can.
Some may try to save both time and money by having both tattoo removal and laser hair removal at once; however, this should be avoided as tattoos tend to be more sensitive than skin on other parts of their bodies as their deeper layers make them more vulnerable to burns, blisters and scarring from laser treatment.
Tattoos contain more blood vessels and veins that can be damaged by laser energy, leading to bruising, swelling and permanent skin discoloration. Therefore, it is imperative that an experienced tattoo artist who is familiar with tattoos understands the differences between their treatment and regular skin and knows how to treat both accordingly.
It Can Burn the Tattoo
As more people use tattoos as an expressive form of body art, it is crucial for them to consider how laser hair removal could damage it. While laser treatments are effective at eliminating unwanted hair, prior to scheduling a session it’s wise to consult an experienced practitioner first.
If a person intends to undergo laser hair removal with tattooed areas in mind, their practitioner should work around rather than over it directly. There have been reports of laser hair removal going wrong at unregulated medical practices or with inexperienced employees; such mistakes have caused severe burns that require hospitalization for treatment.
Laser hair removal uses light energy from lasers to attract and absorb the pigment present in one’s hair follicles and hair shaft, preventing further hair growth. Since tattoo ink contains pigment as well, its light energy could potentially attract it instead, potentially causing irreparable damage.
Green advises anyone with a tattoo to explore alternative hair removal methods, such as electrolysis. Electrolysis provides an effective and risk-free method of getting rid of unwanted hair without damaging a tattoo in any way.
Laser hair removal can be an ideal alternative to time-consuming and painful traditional methods of hair removal such as shaving, waxing and plucking for many men and women alike who find traditional approaches such as shaving, waxing or plucking to be too time consuming or painful for their needs. Unfortunately, however, this process can also damage one’s tattoos or inked areas such as moles or freckles due to light energy from laser beams being absorbed by inked skin and damaging it; those with tattoos in areas they intend on having done can opt for another alternative such as electrolysis provided it’s performed by an experienced practitioner if this may damage occurss – however.
