Skin Health Tips

• Airgent™ - Innovative Acne Scar Treatment
• Hollow Cheeks
• Smoker's Line
• How do I check my own moles?
• What to do after Sunburn
• Can I get Burnt from Laser Hair Removal?
• Can I use Lemon juice as a Vitamin C Serum Substitute?
• Hyaluronic Acid: the Natural Way to Stimulate Collagen Growth
• Skincare – the More the Better and Other Myths
• Sunscreen or Moisturizer First?

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Laser is an extremely effective, long-lasting way to remove unwanted hair, forever! With the right advice as to when and where to apply this technology, burns seldom occur. Lasers destroy hair follicles by using laser wavelengths (e.g. 755nm, 810nm), which are selectively absorbed by melanin - the dark pigment in hair. When laser energy is absorbed by melanin inside the hair follicle, the follicle heats up and is damaged, impeding hair re-growth. This is why laser is effective for dark hair but not blond/grey hair.

However, our skin also contains melanin. Although hair removal lasers are designed to preferentially target the hair follicles and spare the skin, when there is a high level of melanin in the skin, it may also absorb too much laser energy - this is the most common cause of burns with laser hair removal.

To prevent this, it is very important to avoid having any suntan in the area that is undergoing laser hair removal. It is not enough just to avoid lying unprotected on the beach, the area can get tanned even when strolling outdoors uncovered without sunscreen. If you have a tan, you should postpone your laser hair removal appointment until the tan has faded.