Are you worried you can’t have laser hair removal treatment because of an underlying skin condition? While some skin conditions are contraindicated, meaning that laser hair removal may not be the right treatment option, many, including some that were previously not advised, can now safely be treated thanks to developments in laser hair technology. Even if your skin condition or concern isn’t listed here, please be sure to speak to one of our technicians at IGBeauty Laser & Skin Clinic to see if we can treat you – you may be surprised!
Freckles & Moles
Nobody likes a hairy mole. If you’ve heard that removing hair from moles is dangerous, thankfully, medical research shows that this is not the case. But as to whether or not moles and freckles can be treated with laser hair removal, the reality is that it depends.
For raised moles, we will treat around the area, not on top of it as a precaution, just in case that mole is cancerous (the vast majority are not, and it can be tested with biopsy. If the biopsy results show no presence of cancer, then the hair can be safely removed.). However, client safety is our priority. For flat freckles, we are able to treat the entire area, thanks to our Candela™ GentleMax Pro, which uses the latest Nd:Yag technology, which bypasses melanin in the skin to be able to treat any hairs on dark areas of skin, whereas hair removal using IPL would only be able to treat around the moles or freckles – which could have previously ruled out a wide group of people. This newer technology means that rather than treating around, we can treat the whole area safely and effectively.
Eczema & Dermatitis
Laser hair removal is perfectly safe for those who suffer from eczema and dermatitis. Also, laser hair removal creates less irritation than other hair removal techniques such as waxing and shaving. If, at the time of your treatment, you have open areas of sores, the area itself won’t be able to be treated, but thanks to the precise nature of laser hair removal devices, any hair in the surrounding area can easily and effectively be removed. The only provision will be that you follow any aftercare instructions given and that you keep the area well moisturized both before and after treatment. We advise waiting for a time when your eczema is under control, before commencing treatment.
If you are receiving phototherapy treatment, that may affect your ability to have laser hair removal – please get in touch with our team to assess if you will be suitable for treatment.
Oily Skin & Acne
Laser hair removal can actually benefit those who suffer from acne or breakouts. It is an effective treatment to help kill bacteria within the skin, so you may find a pleasant side effect of your laser hair removal treatment is that any pimples you have will calm down during your hair removal treatments. Many acne sufferers report fewer breakouts after completing a course of laser hair removal. This is because the hair follicles themselves will be reduced which in turn, reduces the possibility for them to get blocked (which is one of the major causes of pimples). Additionally, the light emitted from the laser can help to reduce the amount of P.acnes bacteria on the skin, which leads to fewer breakouts.
Immediately after laser hair removal treatment, the hair follicle remains open for a short period of time, and so it is vital to follow any aftercare advice and not touch the affected area, in order to protect it from bacteria.
Acne may get a little worse before it improves with laser hair removal, due to the natural inflammatory response of the body, but following multiple sessions, marked improvements are frequently seen.
Rosacea
Here at IGBeauty Laser & Skin Clinic, we treat rosacea with IPL (intense pulsed light)! So, laser hair removal can be effective and safe for those who suffer from the condition, and may also see significant improvements in their rosacea symptoms – that’s a pretty nice side effect!
Folliculitis
Folliculitis occurs when bacteria enters the hair follicle and causes infection or inflammation. Laser hair removal may help reduce folliculitis and cure the infection, and destroys the hair follicles so they cannot become inflamed or infected again. Several treatments are usually necessary to see results.
Age Spots
Age spots, (also known as hyperpigmentation) are dark patches of skin that have appeared as a result of UV damage. They are more common on older, mature skins, those that have frequent sun exposure without adequate protection, or those who frequently use sunbeds, and can be common for people with naturally darker skin tones.
Hair removal using IPL can actually improve hyperpigmentation. Initially, the hyperpigmented patches of skin may appear darker, as they move up through the layers of the skin, before being shed completely through a course of treatments. But unfortunately, IPL is less effective for permanent hair removal and also it is not safe for darker skin types.
The latest laser hair removal technologies, such as LightSheer Duet and GentleMax Pro offered at IGBeauty Laser & Skin Clinic, can be used to effectively treat dark hair on dark skin, so there is no limitation like previous treatments which only enabled dark hair to be removed from light skin, and no risk of skin burns as a result of treatment.
Tattoos
It is not recommended to have laser hair removal over tattoos, as the integrity of the tattoo cannot be ensured during the treatment. Not only that, but it could prove to be painful.
Also, it’s important to stay away from the impression that laser hair removal may be used to remove your tattoo simultaneously while you are having hair removal treatments. These are separate, and different treatments that utilize different lasers at different settings and one does not replace the other. At IGBeauty we provide successful tattoo removal with M22 Q-Switched ND: Yag laser technology. Our recommendation is to seek laser hair removal before getting a tattoo.
Pregnancy
It is not advised to have laser hair removal while pregnant. Not because the laser treatment isn’t safe, but because skin is often more photosensitive and prone to pigmentation during pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, please wait until after you have had your baby before coming for treatment.
Safe Laser Hair Removal in Toronto at IGBeauty Laser & Skin Clinic
At IGBeauty Laser & Skin Clinic, we’re passionate about helping our clients achieve great, hair-free skin. We offer leading products and technologies to treat common skin conditions, whether minor or severe, and have provided our clients with exceptional laser hair removal results. Contact our team today to schedule a consultation, and create your personalised laser hair removal treatment plan in Toronto with IGBeauty Laser & Skin Clinic.
