Laser Hair Removal and Hypopigmentation
Laser hair removal has been growing in popularity lately. Laser hair removal claims permanent hair loss and reduction. Be wary of laser removal specialists whose prices are too good to be true and make sure you and your specialist have an in-depth discussion as to whether you are a good candidate for laser hair removal, including a discussion as to whether you are at high risk for side effects such as hypopigmentation, the loss of melanin in the skin.
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Hypopigmentation
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If you develop hypopigmentation you will get pale, blotchy skin patches that looked bleached. Hypopigmentation is caused when the laser beam is partially absorbed into the skin instead of being absorbed into the hair follicle. Lasers can inhibit pigmentation, which causes a bleaching effect on the skin. People of medium to darker skin color are at a higher risk of hypopigmentation than a person of a lighter complexion, as is the case with its opposite, hyperpigmentation, the darkening of the skin. And while hyperpigmentation is generally reversible, hypopigmentation is not.
Risks
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According to a study published in the "Lasers in Medical Science" in 2006 and done by the Birmingham Skin Center, the majority of people who undergo laser hair removal do not have any permanent side effects if they are in the hands of capable doctors. Common temporary hair removal reactions include redness, swelling and boils. This does not necessarily mean that the procedure was done incorrectly. Rarely, a patient may have burns, hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation reactions to a treatment that was done correctly .There are no general licensing standards for laser hair removal as of yet, so it behooves you to do your research before you choose to whom you will go.
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Warning
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Laser hair removal works best for those people with fair skin and dark hair. This is because the laser is attracted to the melanin in the dark hair. The procedure does not work as well when there is a lot of melanin in the skin or not enough in the hair. Before laser hair removal, you should not go tanning, as this may increase the risk of hypopigmentation and other side effects.
Lasers
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Laser hair removal works by targeting the hair and destroying the follicle. Because lasers focus on large areas at a time, it is effective on large patches of hair. There are a lot of different types of lasers on the market. According to hairlasers.com, using a laser with a long wavelength may decrease the risk of developing hypopigmentation in darker skin.
Other Procedures
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The hair removal industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and there are a dizzying array of claims and products on the market. In addition to shaving, there are waxing, epilation and plucking methods, all of which involve pulling the hair follicle out by the root. The other hair removal technique that claims permanent hair loss is electrolysis. Electrolysis inserts a tiny metal needle into the hair follicle. It is a longer process than laser hair removal, and it is more painful. Like laser hair removal, there are some risks of hyperhypopigmentation and hypopigmentation with electrolysis.
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