How to Treat Laser Hair Removal Burns

Before treating laser hair removal burns, it helps to know what causes them, and how laser hair removal actually works.

What is a laser?

LASER is an acronym: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser light is focused radiation, and because it can target very precise spots, lasers have proven effective in skin treatments, especially hair removal.

How does laser hair removal get rid of hair?

When the light reaches your hair, the melanin in the hair absorbs it and transforms it into heat, which destroys the hair follicle, the tube-shaped sac the hair grows from.

One common misconception is that laser hair removal is permanent. It is a long-term treatment that delays growth rather than a permanent one: the laser destroys the follicle, and with no follicle there is no hair growth for around six weeks.

What causes the burns?

Laser hair removal is not a painful procedure. Burns are usually the result of prolonged laser contact, and they are more common where skin is thin, so it is the practitioner's job to adjust the energy levels. If you are suffering from burns after a treatment, chances are your practitioner got that wrong.

The laser light converts to heat, the energy that destroys the follicle, and that is the warm sensation you feel during treatment. Although the follicle sits inside the skin, the light travels through the epidermis, which is where discomfort shows up.

Treating a burn

If you've been on the wrong end of an unprofessional treatment, don't panic. Most laser burns are first-degree, similar to a typical heat burn: usually mild, occasionally more serious.

First, cool the area promptly. Cooling it down quickly is the most efficient way to minimize a burn and help it heal faster.

Mild burns usually need nothing more. If a burn persists, seek professional medical help. Antibiotic creams can soothe and treat more severe burns, but use one your doctor prescribes; the wrong cream can make a burn worse.

The right equipment prevents burns

The most common cause of burns is an improperly performed treatment, so the best prevention is having it done by a trained professional with reliable equipment.

Our laser has a built-in dynamic cooling device that soothes the skin instantly and shields the epidermis while the light travels to the follicle, preventing the burning that less careful setups can cause.

Read more about our laser hair removal service, or book an appointment today.