#CANDELA LASER HAIR REMOVAL ON DARK SKIN SKIN#
#CANDELA LASER HAIR REMOVAL ON DARK SKIN PROFESSIONAL#

You'll also want to avoid any kind of exfoliating products, like retinol creams and AHAs and BHAs in the days immediately before your treatment too.

“For laser hair removal, you want the root of the hair to be present and waxing removes the root, and tanning will make it harder for the laser to work.” “Before your treatment appointment, make sure you haven’t waxed recently and you don’t have a tan,” warns Dr.

#CANDELA LASER HAIR REMOVAL ON DARK SKIN SKIN#

While your experience with laser hair removal will largely depend on the specifics of your hair and skin type, there are certain steps you can take to ensure safety and maximize efficacy. How do you prepare for your laser hair removal treatment?

#CANDELA LASER HAIR REMOVAL ON DARK SKIN PROFESSIONAL#

Other risks include burning and blistering, which are more likely to happen if devices are used incorrectly or the wrong laser is used on your skin tone, so it’s incredibly important to go to a medical professional who is thoroughly trained on laser hair removal. “Certain lasers, like the Nd:YAG, go deeper into the skin, bypassing the layer of skin cells that make pigmentation, so it's not going to trigger hyperpigmentation.” “The way a laser works is that, depending on the wavelength, it hits a certain depth in your skin,” Dr. What are the risks of laser hair removal for dark skin?ĭiscoloration (including hyper- and hypo-pigmentation) are the biggest risks with laser hair removal on dark skin, but choosing the right laser can minimize these risks. Idriss says she’s a fan of the Lumenis laser in particular, which is a combination of a diode and a Nd:YAG. Don't worry about specifics: Your doctor will decide which laser is right for you, but FWIW, Dr. “They both work on patients with dark skin and darker hair.”īoth lasers types are pretty common (but always call ahead to make sure your dermatologist can safely treat you before making an appointment). “The two main types of lasers that are b est for people with darker skin tones are the Nd:YAG laser and the diode laser,” says Dr. While laser hair removal is now an option for dark skin tones, it’s important to remember that not all lasers are created equally. Which laser hair removal treatment is best for dark skin? 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. “With recent technological advancements, it’s safe to perform laser hair removal on dark skin,' says Dr. 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. Is laser hair removal safe for dark skin?īecause 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. “The light emitted by lasers is converted to heat which damages the hair follicle and delays or inhibits growth.” Historically, it was the contrast between dark hair and lighter skin that enabled the laser to target follicles-which is also the reason these devices weren’t able to distinguish between dark skin and dark hair, making them unsafe for deeper skin. “Lasers remove hair by emitting a beam of light that targets the melanin pigments found in hair follicles,” explains Dr. At-home laser hair removal devices exist and can be effective when used properly and consistently, but the best and safest results typically come from professional laser hair removal treatments administered at a dermatologist’s office. Laser hair removal is ideal for anyone looking to stop or slow hair growth on specific parts of the face and/or body.

Candela laser hair removal on dark skin