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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffLaser hair removal doesn't guarantee permanent hair removal. Some hair may be resistant to the laser treatment or may grow again after treatment — although the new hair growth may be finer and lighter in color.
The most common side effects of laser hair removal include:
- Skin irritation. Temporary irritation, crusting or scabbing is possible after laser hair removal.
- Pigment changes. Laser hair removal may darken or lighten the affected skin, usually temporarily. Skin lightening primarily affects those who have darker skin, especially if an incorrect laser is used at an incorrect setting.
Rarely, laser hair removal may cause blistering, scarring or other changes in skin texture.
- Shenenberger DW. Removal of unwanted hair. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
- Vano-Galvan S, et al. Complications of nonphysician-supervised laser hair removal: Case report and literature review. Canadian Family Physician. 2009;55:50.
- Wanitphakdeedecha R, et al. Physical means of treating unwanted hair. Dermatologic Therapy. 2008;21:392.
- Tierney EP, et al. Laser hair removal pearls. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2008;10:17.
- Gold MH. Lasers and light sources for the removal of unwanted hair. Clinics in Dermatology. 2007;25:443.
- Do's and don'ts for laser hair removal. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/DosAndDontsLaserHairRemoval.aspx. Accessed Dec. 3, 2009.
- Laser hair removal information. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/LaserHairRemovalInformation.aspx. Accessed Dec. 3, 2009.
- Casey AS, et al. Guidelines for laser hair removal. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2008;10:24.
- Life-threatening side effects with the use of skin products containing numbing ingredients for cosmetic procedures. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PublicHealthAdvisories/ucm054718.htm. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
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