One important thing that all patients should be aware of before undergoing laser hair removal is that the skin must be completely healed. If there is any sign of scar formation, it is essential to wait until the wound has healed and the skin has repaired itself. Treatment for scars from laser therapy can include topical or intralesional steroids, silicone gel, or silicone sheets. In some cases, laser rejuvenation may be the best option for a scar, even if it was caused by a laser treatment.
If persistent grid or checkerboard patterns appear after fractional exfoliation, they may disappear on their own over time, but full-field ablative exfoliation may be beneficial. Before undergoing laser treatment to reduce a visible scar, it is important to know 10 key points. People with darker skin should take extra care and use a less intense laser to avoid damaging the outer skin. Laser surgery is another option for treating keloid scars.
Different lasers can be used depending on the cause of the scar, such as softening a scar, removing abnormal color, or flattening it. Most laser treatments for keloid scars are done in combination with other treatments like steroid injections, special dressings, and bandages. Several treatments may be necessary regardless of the initial therapy. The symptoms of a laser injury include a bright flash of colored light and sometimes a click that coincides with the laser shot.
Laser procedures should be done with extreme caution due to patients' high expectations for optimal results. Warning signs should be placed outside the laser room to prevent personnel without eye protection from entering and risking eye injury, and windows should be covered to prevent laser energy from escaping the room. A burn after laser hair removal may appear red, blistered, swollen, and shaped like the tip of the laser applicator device. The selection of a laser for a specific indication depends on the chromophore of the laser, which is the molecule or molecules most likely to absorb electromagnetic energy of a given wavelength.
Circular hypopigmentation spots may appear after laser hair removal with an alexandrite laser. HSV infections caused by laser procedures must be treated aggressively due to the risk of scarring and bacterial superinfection. Surgeons should selectively choose candidates for laser therapy and not perform elective procedures on patients who are excessively tanned. Laser applications in medicine continue to advance with new devices and expanded indications for laser therapy.
This is a cosmetic procedure that uses intense heat from a laser to damage hair follicles and prevent future hair growth. Doctors and other clinicians should know the risks of complications from laser procedures and how to treat them. Complications can be reduced by avoiding exposure to the sun before and after treatments and using a fractional laser application system or cooling devices. Laser hair removal on the face is non-invasive and can be performed on anyone with unwanted facial hair.
You can find one that specializes in laser procedures under “Find a Dermatologist: Select Specialty” (“Laser Procedures”). Nanni and Alster reported in 1988 that up to 10% of patients undergoing laser hair removal with alexandrite and ruby lasers had hypopigmentation after treatment.