Dark Skin Laser Hair Removal Technology
At Skin Medical we use diode laser as opposed to the Intense Pulse Light system as the IPL is less effective than the diode laser, especially when it comes to dark skins. Using IPL on dark skin also presents a higher risk of burning patients and that is why so many other clinics cannot treat people with this skin tone as they have chosen to invested in inferior and less expensive technology.
At Skin Medical our clinicians assess your skin and hair, choosing the correct laser and settings for the procedure, assess how many treatments you need and any steps you can take before and after treatment which will improve your treatment experience and help to avoid risks of any side effects on your skin.
Patients are advised to read the written instructions given at time of consultation and to adhere to these instructions prior to treatment at all times.
For Smoother Firmer Skin
If youre looking to put some bounce back in your skin, the pico is as close to a one-size-fits-all as it gets. These lasers produce a pulse of pressure waves deep below the skins surface to inflame it, thereby stimulating new collagen growth. Thats why Akhavan says pico lasers, like PicoSure Focus, are his go-to when working with Asian, East Asian, and Indian patients. Fractionated lasers, like Fraxel, are also an option on all skin tones. They trigger inflammation in little spots throughout the skin, rather than evenly covering the entire surface area. Youre still hitting the skin with heat and energy, though, so there is a risk of skin darkening after the fact. Topical therapies can minimize any potential damage. Dermatologists like Zeichner now prescribe hydroquinone, which relaxes pigment-making cells, for a week before and after a fractionated-laser procedure so it wont trigger pigment production. Rahman recommends 4 percent prescription hydroquinone to even out the skin tone.
A version of this article originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of Allure. To get your copy, head to newsstands or .
More on lasers in skin care:
Risks Of Laser Hair Removal For Darker Skin Tones
Older laser devices have trouble differentiating between pigment in the hair, and pigment in dark skin. Because pigment attracts the laser, theres a greater risk for burns, blisters or scarring when treating darker skin.
Additional side effects include hyperpigmentation, darkening of the skin, or hypopigmentation, lightening of the skin. For these reasons, its been a long-standing myth that laser hair treatment is only possible for those with light skin.
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How Long Does It Take To See Results From Laser Hair Removal
After feeling like you’ve been popped with thousands of rubber bands, you may be wondering how long it will take to see results. “You’ll typically see anywhere between a 50 percent and 90 percent reduction of hair with the first treatment,” says Dr. Charles, adding that it usually takes around five sessions to see major differences.
I didn’t believe this was true until I started experiencing moments where 20 to 30 pieces of “dead” hair would fall out onto my washcloth as I washed my body and into my hands as I applied lotion. This may seem odd at first, but it’s a good indicator that your sessions are working and aren’t being done in vain.
You should also expect to see less hair growth after a few sessions. At times, it may look patchy, because your hair grows in different phases and some areas tend to be more stubborn than others. “It is important to adhere to a consistent, monthly routine when starting laser hair removal,” says Dr. Charles. This is because your hair typically grows in three phases: the growth phase, the resting phase, and the regression phase.
It’s worth mentioning again that though laser treatments can make a big difference in the amount of hair on your body, it’s not considered permanent hair removal. Because factors like hormones can continue to impact your hair growth, you’ll still need to go in for maintenance sessions even after you’re “done.”
Learn more about the difference between waxing, shaving, and getting laser on your bikini area:
But Today Can Dark Skin Types Get Laser Hair Removal
Again, the answer is a 100% yes!
While it may have been unsafe in the past, technological advancements have led to the development of newer lasers that can safely and precisely carry out laser treatments on dark skin types. The Nd:YAG laser is one of the newer laser technologies thats been invented as well as the best type so far recommended for dark skin tones. Its been proven to be one of the safest and quickest laser hair removal technologies too.
In addition to this, laser hair removal is more effective if you have dark brown or black hair. This is because the darker your hair, the easier it is for the lasers to detect the melanin in your hair follicles. Darker hair is often the case for dark skin types, so thats another reason youd be the perfect candidate for a laser treatment. Now, dont you feel like Gods favorite?
Certainly, this is very good news not only for darker-skinned women but also darker-skinned men! Yes, you read that right. Gone are the days where the only men that removed hair from their bodies were bodybuilders, cyclists, swimmers, and male exotic dancers. Plus, laser treatments for men are best for removing or reducing hair on the chest, stomach, back, shoulders, and genital area.
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What Is Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is basically the use of laser heat to destroy hair at the follicle. After several treatments, the hair follicle becomes too damaged and hair no longer grows in that spot.
The early laser hair removal technology used IPL or intense pulsed light which worked well on light skin with dark hair.
But there was a problem:
On other complexions, such as fair skin with light hair, or in laser hair removal for brown skin, the laser heated the surrounding skin too much, causing burns. Many other patients experienced permanent changes in skin pigmentation. IPLs were determined to be too dangerousfor permanent hair removal for dark skin.
What You Need To Know About Laser Hair Removal For Darker Skin Tones
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Historically, there has been a lack of education and understanding about Black skin care. Take laser hair removal, for example. According to Brigstock Skin & Laser Centre, laser machines are programmed to target the dark pigment of hair follicles, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the hair and melanated skin. This posed a hazard, making darker-skinned individuals more prone to laser burns, scars, and discoloration because “too much heat is absorbed across the whole skin instead of just the follicles,” according to nurse practitioner Jill Canes .
And while this major flaw in beauty technology also affected those with blonde or very light-colored hair, common side effects for them were redness and some sensitivity burns, however, were rare.
Fortunately, in recent years, the beauty industry has made great strides when it comes to honoring a wider range of skin tones in cosmetics, and there have even been improvements in laser machinery as well. Now equipped with smarter wavelengths, new laser technology can now better target Black and brown girls’ unwanted fuzz.
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Off For You And Your Friend
Our referral campaign offer is valid at all clinics for any treatment or package. All you need to do is book your free consultation to redeem. This applies to your friend too. Share this page with your friends and then enter the promo code, FRIEND50 when booking your Free consultation. The offer is for packages £500 minimum spend. T & Cs apply.
Dark Skin Laser Hair Removal
Dark skin laser hair removal is generally more challenging than for lighter skin types however, at Skin Medical we have invested in lasers that can treat all skin types.
The laser hair removal method for dark skin types works by laser energy attacking melanin within the hair. However, dark skin contains high levels of melanin. The challenge is to transfer laser energy to hairs without transferring so much energy to the neighbouring skin as this could lead to the skin being affected.
It is therefore essential to obtain expert advice to find out whether you are a suitable candidate for laser hair removal. Skin Medical can assess this and recommend the best course of action for your personal situation.
Skin Medical employs qualified medical professionals, so you can be sure that your treatment plan will be expertly formulated to suit your individual requirements.
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Myth: Laser Hair Removal Cant Be Done On Darker Skin
Think again, because nothing could be further from the truth! People with darker skin tones are often discouraged from getting because of laser hair removals unwarranted reputation for damaging darker skin. But the truth is that recent advances in laser technology and techniques have now made it possible to treat nearly all skin tones and types of hair. Two such laser technologies are the Nd:YAG and Diode lasers, both of which effectively and safely treat darker skin tones.
Using Wrong Type Of Laser For Darker Skin Can Be Serious Consequences
If you have darker skin, you will need to choose the right laser hair removal. What makes laser hair removal tricky for dark skin lies with the fact that laser mainly targets the melanin in your skin besides the hair follicle itself. Using the wrong type of laser can have negative side effects and consequences. You might get unintended burns, scarring or permanent skin pigmentation or discoloration which can affect you for a very long time.
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Types Of Lasers That Are Safe For Dark Skin
Adiode laser uses radiation at a continuous stable frequency. Theyre the same lasers used in CD players, laser printers, and remote controls. While diode laser hair removal results in hair reduction rather than permanent removal, its much safer than IPLs.
Nd:YAG lasers use crystals to create laser light. The G stands for garnet, and the Nd stands for neodymium, which creates ions that react and cause the laser light in the crystal. Nd:YAG lasers can treat cancer and are used in surgery.
ELOS laserscombine IPLs with radio frequencies, making for more targeted treatment. ELOS laser hair removal devices also often have technology that cools the skin while the device is in contact with it.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe For Dark Skin
Because many old-school lasers had trouble differentiating between dark skin and dark hair, they carried risks for dark-skinned patients, like hyperpigmentation, blisters, and scarring. These days, though, lasers are much smarter and more precise, so they can get rid of unwanted hair for a wider range of skin tones.
With recent technological advancements, its safe to perform laser hair removal on dark skin,” says Dr. Henry, “as new technologies can bypass the epidermal melanin and target only the melanin pigment in hair follicles.” Translation: Many new lasers are able to tell the difference between your hair color and skin color.
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The Best Laser For Dark Complexions
If you tried to get laser hair removal on a darker complexion in the early 2000s, you were probably turned away because old lasers weren’t created to work on these skin types. But now, newer lasers can distinguish between the pigment of the skin and hair follicles, making it possible to safely and effectively treat melanin-rich skin.
According to Dr. Charles, laser hair removal is “incredibly effective” for people with darker complexions when performed with a laser that provides a 1064 nanometer laser wavelength of light. Lasers such as the Nd:YAG have a 1064 nanometer wavelength, and this long wavelength and solely targets the melanin, or pigment, of the hair follicle.
“This particular wavelength is safest for skin of color because the wavelength penetrates the skin deeply enough to destroy the hair follicles without destroying the surrounding melanocytes ,” says DiAnne Davis, MD, FAAD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist located in Dallas, TX. This is important because the destruction of the melanocytes can lead to pigmentary alterations such as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, she adds.
According to Dr. Charles, laser hair removal is very safe with minimal side effects, “assuming that the person doing it is using the right laser and understands the mechanics of treating darker skin,” he says.
Myth: Only Women Get Laser Hair Removal
Unwanted hair is a common concern for women, men, transgender, and non-binary people.
Laser hair removal provides an effective and popular option to remove this unwanted hair for everyone, regardless of gender. Areas of treatment for trans patients typically include full face, chest, back, legs, arms, bikini line and buttocks.
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Laser Hair Removal In Washington Dc
Almost everyone has unwanted hair somewhere on their body. Unfortunately, traditional hair removal routines can be tedious, painful and expensive over time. Shaving may last a day, waxing a couple of weeks, and tweezing can be painful and irritating.
Laser hair removal can work for most everyone, for all skin colors and most hair types. For men, laser hair removal is great for permanently reducing chest and back hair for the cleaner, younger look you desire. For men who keep their heads bald by shaving, laser hair removal frees them from daily maintenance. Ingrown hairs and razor bumps in the beard area can be avoided by permanent hair reduction. For women, its a great alternative to creams and waxing for reducing hair on the face and body-including delicate areas around the lips and the bikini line.
How does it work?To eliminate hair, the laser emits gentle pulses of energy that pass through the skin to the hair follicle. This energy is then absorbed into the hair follicle to destroy it so that is unlikely to grow there again.
Am I a viable candidate for laser hair removal?Laser hair removal can be applied to all areas of the body and on all types of skin .
Does it hurt?The laser treatment causes only minimal discomfort. Patients often say it feels similar to the snap of a rubber band. Slight redness or localized swelling can occasionally occur, but this usually subsides within the first 24 hours after treatment.
How Laser Hair Removal Work
The laser light is concentrated into your hair folliclesthat is, the roots of your body hair. The pigment in your follicles then absorbs the light which is how the hair is destroyed.
The thing about these laser treatments is that at the onset, there was an absence of inclusivity. The lasers were specifically suitable for lighter skin tones because of the way they work. As it is the dark hair pigments in the follicles that are targeted, the very first lasers could not differentiate between the pigment in the hair and the pigment in dark skin types . Clearly, this was not an issue for fair or lighter skin.
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Darker Skin May Require More Treatments
Not only might your treatment take longer, but those with darker skin tones may require more treatments before achieving final results. Going at a slower pace prevents possible skin damage. While everyones skin responds differently to laser treatment, expect anywhere from 10-12 sessions for semi-permanent hair removal.
How To Choose The Best Laser For Hair Removal On Dark Skin
Like anything else in life, there are pros and cons to the new technology. To find the best method for your skin, you should start by reading reviews for laser hair removal products made especially for dark skin. Compare and contrast each customers experience, paying special attention to any side effects mentioned.
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Why Laser Hair Removal Is Safe For All Skin Tones
Itâs a pretty common misconception that laser hair removal wonât work for people with darker skin tones. While this might have been true when the FDA first approved laser hair removal back in the late 90s, technology has advanced over the years in order to make it safe for even the darkest of skin tones.
However, itâs important to mention that some places that advertise laser hair removal services are really using IPL or Intense Pulsed Light technologyâthe same outdated technology found in most at-home devices. This is not a real laser and should NEVER be used on darker skin tones! Not only does it offer inferior results, but for people of color it may lead to burns and complications.
Our laser, the GentleMax Pro, provides the safest treatments for darker skin tones. It uses two lasers one fair skin and one thatâs for darker skin . The Nd: Yag technology has a weaker melanin absorption rate, and longer wavelengths which make it safe to use on dark skin tones.
This combination of technologies allows our highly-trained medical professionals to create customized treatment plans to fit the exact needs of each clientâs skin tone and hair type. With us, thereâs no âone size fits allâ when it comes to treatment plans. Itâs this customization that enables us to safely and effectively perform laser hair removal on any skin toneâfrom the fair to the darkest.
Nd: Yag Laser Hair Removal
The is one of the most innovative lasers on the market. It has the incredible ability to distinguish between subtleties in pigmentation, effectively removing hair on any skin tone. Because the Nd:YAG laser produces one of the longest beams, fewer pulses are required to get the job done. This means shorter laser hair removal sessions, minimal patient discomfort, and reduced risk of complications.
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