Burns during laser hair removal: why do they occur and how to avoid them?
Contents
- ❄️ Understanding the procedure: how burns occur
- ❄️ How to avoid burns during laser hair removal?
- ❄️ Choosing the right salon and specialist
- ❄️ Preparation for the procedure to minimize the risk of burns after laser hair removal
- ❄️ The impact of photosensitizers on the risk of burns after laser hair removal
“Is it possible to get a burn from laser hair removal?” — this is one of the questions that interests many future clients of our salons. If you’re curious about this topic, the specialists at LaserVille explain in detail the causes of burns after laser hair removal and how to prevent them.
Understanding the procedure: how burns occur
Before explaining why laser hair removal can cause burns, let’s first explain how the laser works.
The laser targets the pigment (melanin) located in the hair follicle. Melanin absorbs the light energy, heats up, and destroys the hair’s growth zone.
As a result, a few weeks after laser hair removal, the hair shaft falls out because the root has been “destroyed.”
The laser should act selectively — targeting only the pigment. However, sometimes the surrounding tissues can also be damaged. This usually happens due to incorrect device settings, the incompetence of the person performing the procedure, or a high concentration of melanin in the skin caused by intense tanning.
Unfortunately, clients of unreliable salons encounter this problem quite often.
You can find many photos of burns after laser hair removal on the internet.
| Cause of burns | How to avoid burns |
| Incorrect laser settings | Consult an experienced specialist who will select the parameters based on your skin and hair type. |
| High skin sensitivity | Perform a test on a small area of skin before the procedure to assess the reaction. In our salons, a free laser hair removal test session is available. |
| Insufficient skin cooling | Ensure that the specialist uses cooling gels or systems to minimize thermal impact. |
| Untreated skin damage | Do not undergo laser hair removal if there are burns, inflammations, or wounds on the skin. |
| Neglecting post-procedure care | Follow aftercare recommendations, such as moisturizing the skin and avoiding sun exposure. |
| Mismatch between laser type and skin | Choose a type of laser that matches your skin type — for example, a diode laser for fair skin or a Nd:YAG laser for darker skin tones. Laser hair removal with Moveo technology is suitable for all skin phototypes, including very dark skin. |
| Use of cosmetics before the procedure | Cleanse your skin from any cosmetics and skincare products before the procedure to avoid increased sensitivity. |
How to avoid burns during laser hair removal?
To ensure that your body is taken care of in the best way, you first need to approach the selection of a hair removal salon seriously. The equipment should be certified, and the specialists should be knowledgeable. Then the procedure is completely safe.
Choosing the right salon and specialist
In our network of salons, we use laser devices with built-in cooling systems. Alexandrite laser Motus AX with Moveo handpiece operates dynamically (i.e., in constant motion). Thus, the laser’s effect on the skin is regulated not only by the cooling sapphire tip but also by the minimal exposure time to the same area of skin. The skin does not overheat, so burns are avoided.
Another essential condition to prevent skin burns is that the specialist must be experienced. They should not only have an understanding of how to select a programmed treatment protocol.
A good specialist understands the device’s operation, can independently adjust the parameters, and will ensure that the procedure is both safe and effective.
In the Motus AX laser device, parameters are partially set by an intelligent control system. There are dozens of device protocols programmed for different skin types to protect each skin type from overheating, burns, and pigmentation spots.
All specialists starting work in the LaserVille network study the device’s principles through courses from the manufacturer – a representative of the Italian company DEKA.
Preparation for the procedure to minimize the risk of burns after laser hair removal
The third thing that will help you avoid burns during laser hair removal is to consider contraindications and follow the specialists‘ recommendations for preparing for the procedure.
Contraindications include any irritations, micro-injuries, wounds, and skin diseases in an active phase.
To protect yourself not only from laser burns on the face and other parts of the body but also from even the slightest pigmentation and irritation after laser hair removal, follow the specialists’ recommendations:
- You should not sunbathe actively before the procedure (from 3 to 14 days, depending on the type of laser). Similarly, avoid sun exposure after the procedure.
- Do not use lotions or other alcohol-containing products on your skin 1-2 days before visiting the salon.
- Shaving with a dull razor can provoke skin irritation, which increases sensitivity, making the procedure more painful.
- Shaving dry skin also causes irritation, so be mindful of this.
Even seemingly harmless activities like swimming in a pool can cause discomfort. The explanation is simple – pool water is usually disinfected with chlorine, which can cause slight skin irritation. It’s not noticeable to the naked eye, but the effects after laser hair removal can manifest, especially in people with sensitive skin.
The impact of photosensitizers on the risk of burns after laser hair removal
There are medications that act as photosensitizers — they increase the skin’s sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation and stimulate melanin production. The more melanin there is, the higher the risk of getting a burn after laser hair removal.
These medications can cause photoallergies and phototoxic reactions. Some antibiotics and other drugs act as photosensitizers.
Therefore, if you are taking any medications, discuss this with your specialist to avoid negative effects on the skin.
By choosing one of our LaserVille laser hair removal salons, you can be confident in the safety of the procedure — LaserVille specialists have medical education and undergo training in working with laser equipment.
The Motus AX device is certified and meets all the standards applicable in Ukraine.
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