two legs with laser hair removal burns

Laser Hair Removal Burns | How to Prevent Laser Hair Removal Burns and How to Treat Them?

Everyone wants to get smooth and hairless skin, but some accident may happen, like laser hair removal burn. For the people who is going to take the treatment should read the guide first. Please grab a cup of drink or coffee to look through the article and have a essential understanding of laser hair removal burn and how to prevent them. 

How Does Laser Hair Removal Treatment Work?

Laser hair removal is a medical process that uses intense pulsed light to get rid of undesired hair. During the laser hair removal process, the light emitted by the laser is taken by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The conversion of light energy into heat energy will damage the tubular sacs in the skin (hair follicles) produced by the hair.

This damage inhibits or slows down hair growth in the future. Although laser hair removal is effective in delaying hair growth for a long time, it usually does not permanently remove hair. Initial hair removal requires more laser hair removal treatments and may also require supportive treatments.

Why laser hair removal burn marks can happen?

Laser hair removal targets the pigment or melanin in the hair follicles. But this method is not suitable for light-colored, white, or gray hair because it has less melanin. It is also not suitable for red hair because it contains different types of melanin. Although the skin is pink and slightly sensitive after laser hair removal, this is normal and burns are rare.

Here are some possible reasons why they can occur. According to research, burns can occur as a result of too long contact of the laser with the skin if the cooling is not correct. The laser type can also be a problem, as newer versions of laser hair removal devices usually have more safety features to reduce burns. 

Laser Gel

The researchers also found that laser gel may be part of the problem. Some gels are used in conjunction with laser during treatment. They referred to a case that a woman got a reaction to an epidermal burn due to the stacking of debris on the laser applicator device. You can also burn yourself if you do not allow the gel to dry before treating the affected area.

Darker Skin

Finally, people with darker skin or newly tanned people are more likely to get burnt. Melanin in black skin competes with melanin in hair follicles. For example, people with white skin and black hair have a very low risk of burns because the melanin levels in the surrounding skin are very low. In contrast, if laser hair removal is conducted on darker-skinned customers because the entire skin takes in too much heat, not just the hair follicles, burns may come up.

How to Prevent Laser Hair Removal Burns or Minor Laser Hair Removal Burns

One of the only ways to reduce the risk of laser burns is to see a reputable dermatologist or beauty salon that provides this procedure. Also, make sure that the technician has experience in using lasers. Make sure that the laser equipment you use is suitable for your skin type, skin tone, and hair color. Ensure that the laser equipment is approved by the FDA and is in good condition.

Make sure your laser treatment is performed by an experienced and licensed specialist. Be sure to shave your legs 24 hours before the laser session so that no visible hair is burned out by the laser. Since tanned skin is more susceptible to sunburn, we recommend avoiding sun exposure. Avoid using some skincare products. Avoid taking topical dermatological medications such as retinoids at least 1 week before your procedure. Finally, a checkpoint is a useful way to prevent potential negative effects.

How To Treat Burns From Laser Hair Removal

It's advised to treat burn with some skincare products. Vaseline works wonders for promoting wound healing, and you should also consider local antimicrobials and special dressings, Cane adds. Because burned skin will be very sensitive to the sun, do not expose the affected area to direct sunlight. If you are experiencing pain associated with a burn, we recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve).

In more aggressive cases, the burn may take a couple of months or more to fade. It also depends on the location of the burn, as burns on the legs usually take longer to heal. In addition, more severe burns, such as second- or third-degree burns, are likely to require medical attention and prescription medication.

If you get a laser burn during treatment, you can give first aid to the wound at home based on the severity of the burn.

Here are a few tips to help ease the pain:

  • Put ice cubes on the affected area to reduce swelling, or try taking a cold shower.
  • Unless your doctor advises you to do this, don't use greasy or occlusive ointments for laser burns, because ointments tend to retain heat.
  • Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing, otherwise, it will burn you further.
  • If you participate in sports, it is important that the burn is always clean and dry.
  • If blisters appear due to burns, don't "pop" the blisters. This is tempting because it makes the wound susceptible to infection, which can leave scars.
  • Try using over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen.
  • If the technician suggests wrapping the gauze around the burn, do not wrap it too tightly.

Although a minor laser burn can be treated fairly easily at home, you should see a professional doctor if you are concerned about anything, and be sure to see a doctor for more serious burns. Your doctor can assess the severity of the burn and prescribe appropriate medications to help heal the injuries.

How Do I Tell If I Got Laser Burns From Hair Removal?

If it is very hot, not cold, you should inform your doctor while the treatment is on process. This will make the practitioner to adjust the treatment settings. They can also immediately cool the skin and possibly stop or reduce the severity of the burn.

Signs of infection in laser hair removal burn

  1. An increase in pain
  2. Redness in the area of the burn
  3. Swelling
  4. Pus oozing from the burn site.
  5. A bad smell around the burn
  6. Fever

If you doubt that you have suffered a burn, be sure to let your laser technician know before leaving the beauty salon. Ensure you know what to expect and how to take care of your skin at home. Therefore, arrange to follow up after treatment and have no hesitation to call the clinic if you need any help.

You will usually know almost immediately if you have a burn. However, in some cases, the skin may not heat up until you get home.

Once you suspect a burn, you should call and speak with the laser specialist who performed the treatment.

If you are unsatisfied or unsure about post-treatment care, ask to speak with the medical director. First of all, you should try to work with the staff of the clinic in which the laser treatment was carried out. So, if you are not satisfied with the level of medical care, see another specialist.

Should you pop a burn blister?

Should a burnt blister burst? If blisters appear on the skin after laser hair removal, do not burst them. Opening the blister can lead to infection. In addition to keeping your blisters from bursting, there are other steps you can take to treat burns and first aid with laser hair removal.
New skin forms under the affected area and the fluid is absorbed. Do not pierce a blister if it is small, painful, or may cause additional irritation. The fluid blister keeps the underlying skin clean, preventing infection and helping to heal.

After The Burns From Laser Hair Removal Have Healed

Once the burns have healed, preventing scarring is the next priority. The most important thing you can do is protect this area from further injury.

This includes avoiding sun exposure. Make sure you are using good-quality sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. 

Topical serums containing vitamin C and growth factors can promote collagen production.It can improve skin healing and reduce inflammation.

If the burn marks are old, clinical treatment, such as a medium-depth chemical peel, may be required to heal the scar.

Can At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices Cause Burns Too?

There are many household laser hair removal devices on the market, but unfortunately, not all devices are the same.

If you are interested in home laser hair removal equipment, it is important to conduct research.

Buy from a professional company like Lovedock, the world's leading manufacturer of IPL hair removal devices. We have completed hundreds of thousands of IPL hair removal surgeries and rarely receive quality complaints from customers. In addition, the Lovedock IPL hair removal handset comes with a detailed user manual. Learn More here. You know how to do laser hair removal gently and never get burned with it.

lovedock IPL  laser hair removal

How To Minimise The Risk Of Laser Hair Removal Burns

As we said before, inexperienced technicians and defective devices are the two main causes of laser hair removal burns. In order to minimize the risk of burns from laser hair removal surgery, you need to choose the right professionals and make sure they use quality equipment. Never choose laser hair removal professionals because they seem to be affordable or in a comfortable position.

Their reputation-read recommendation letters from previous patients. Do the reviews of the beautician respond well and recommend the clinic, or are the reviews mostly negative? Their clinic-visit the clinic and look around. What is your first impression of here?

Was the staff friendly and helpful or impatient and concise? Look at their facility carefully.

Technician License - Laser treatments should only be performed by qualified professionals. No matter how impressive the other factors are, if the technician is not licensed, cross that clinic off your list. 

Finally, and actually, the most effective way to reduce the risk of laser hair removal burns is the skin test. Most reputable cosmetologists will do a patch test before your laser hair removal procedure. The patch test site is then checked to ensure there is no discoloration or pain, and this procedure is only recommended if the patch test is successful. Never undergo laser hair removal without first applying a patch on the part of your body you want to treat. 

Bottom Line

Everyone loves smooth and hairless skin. In view of this, Lovedock bring this at home IPL Hair removal handset to the market and let everyone enjoy hair removal from the comfort of their home. Rest assured, with proper use, it’s hardly for you to get laser hair removal burns.

Source:

Mayoclinic

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.