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Dr. Heck explains why laser hair removal is considered a safe procedure and describes an ideal candidate.
Dr. Heck:
Laser hair removal is a safe option for removing unwanted hair as long as it’s dark hair. We don’t have the technology to remove gray hairs or light hairs. So the safest patient for laser hair removal is light skin and dark hair. Darker skinned individuals can risk hyperpigmentation or getting dark spots on their skin from the laser.
The laser targets the pigment in the hair root and the darker the skin is the more the laser sees the pigment in the skin instead of the pigment in the hair root. That being said, there are safe options for patients of darker skin. You just have to be really careful who you go to. I would recommend going somewhere that’s supervised by a physician, somewhere that has a really good reputation.
About Dr. Shannon Heck, M.D.:
Shannon Heck, M.D., F.A.A.D., is a board certified dermatologist and a partner in a large, thriving dermatologic practice in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. She specializes in general and cosmetic dermatology.