The Truth About Laser Hair Removal For Dark Skin
Are you someone with either tan skin or dark skin wanting to get laser hair removal? If so, you have probably heard about the concerns with the effectiveness and safety of laser hair removal for dark skinned individuals. With an increase in technology, new improvements have been made towards improving the effectiveness and quality of lasers for people of all skin types. It is true that lasers work best on people with dark hairs and light skin. With the advent of new lasers, the playing field for people with dark skin or light hair have been evened.
The reason why lasers work best with people of light skin and dark hair is because of how melanin, a pigment on the surface of our skin, interacts with 
the laser. Melanin is present in both the skin and in the hair. The darker your skin or hair, the more melanin there is on the outer surface. Melanin present in the skin’s outer surface hinders the lasers because they have a tendency to absorb the light emitted by the laser. This naturally leads to unwanted results and less results but also cause damage to your outer skin. For people of darker skin, the laser’s beam will target the melanin on the surface of the skin as opposed to the melanin in the hair.
Prior to any decision for getting laser hair removal for dark skin individuals, it is important to understand how the laser works, how the process takes place, which doctors are the most trained and experienced, and what the precautions might be. Some extra precautions need to be considered for those of darker skin. With poor quality lasers and unqualified clinicians, burning and scarring may result. For dark skinned individuals, it is highly advisable to find a way to cool down the surface of the skin.
Be sure to ask your clinician what type of laser he/she will be using and how old the laser is. Lasers made before 1999 should not be used to treat people with darker skin because the light pulses are too short, resulting in targeting of the melanin on the skin’s surface as opposed to the hair shaft itself. This can lead to discoloration, burning, and scarring. As a general rule of thumb, the longer the laser wavelength, the better it is for clients with darker skin. There are 3 main lasers with differing wavelengths. They include the Alexandrite, Nd:YAG, and Diode. The Nd:YAG is best for individuals with dark skin because it has the longest wavelength of all the lasers, with light emission at around 1064nm. The Alexandrite has an emission of 755nm while the Diode has one of 810nm.
Above anything else, it is crucial for those with dark skin to do some extra research of reliable and experienced clinicians around your area. Even with the best lasers such as the Nd:YAG, there are still many other variables that can affect the outcome of laser hair removal treatment. These variables, such as how long the light should stay on and how long the pulse should be, are controlled by the clinician. Experienced clinicians will also suggest some form way to prep for your treatment, such as cooling creams, to prevent burning and discoloration after each laser session.
Emily is a writer living in Atlanta, Georgia. She currently works for health and beauty clinic located in Midtown, Look Young Atlanta, and in her free time she loves to write for the Look Young Atlanta blog–check it out for more tips and articles on how to stay on top of your health and beauty!
Related posts:
Comments