How to get rid of black spots after laser hair removal

Want to avoid ingrown hairs and painful waxing appointments? Laser hair removal in Burleson, TX can turn this dream into a reality. But before getting laser hair removal in Fort Worth, patients should discover the potential risks and side effects of treatment, including hyperpigmentation. Board-certified physician Dr. Mukhtar Anees discusses the details of this procedure below. Learn more about our process by scheduling a private consultation with the professionals at Med Spa At Seena One.

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal uses laser energy to damage hair follicles and prevent them from growing back. People often seek laser hair removal for areas such as the face, arms, legs, back, chest, armpits, and bikini area. When this treatment first became popular, ideal candidates had light skin and dark hair. This is because lasers detect pigmentation in the skin before damaging the follicle.

Is laser hair removal for dark skin?

Many of our patients ask – is laser hair removal for dark skin? Since early lasers could not always distinguish between dark skin and dark hair, people with dark skin sometimes encountered side effects, like hyperpigmentation.

As cosmetic technology continues to develop, however, laser procedures have become safer and more effective with no long-term risks. Dr. Anees offers the advanced Lumenis® LightSheer™ Duet laser so patients with a wide variety of skin tones can get laser hair removal in Fort Worth.

Our laser hair removal technology

Med Spa at Seena One (Corrective Skin Care)personalizes laser hair removal for dark skin according to your current needs and cosmetic goals. During your consultation, we can review your hair and skin type to determine the best way to move forward. We can also evaluate your skin and see whether you are likely to experience any laser hair removal side effects. Our priorities include the following:

Maximum safety and efficiency
Maximum comfort for the patient
Short treatment sessions
Satisfying results

How laser hair removal works

Patients usually require 3 – 5 sessions over a period of several weeks to achieve the best outcomes. Our revolutionary laser targets only the hair follicle to preserve your skin and the surrounding tissue. While the procedure is noninvasive, the treated skin may feel like it has a slight sunburn. We can recommend some soothing lotions to minimize any pain or discomfort.

How to prevent laser hair removal side effects

There are ways to prevent yourself from skin damage and other laser hair removal side effects. First, never undergo laser procedures after recent sun exposure. This can make you more sensitive to hyperpigmentation. You should also wear high-SPF, broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. If you discover any marks or scars after treatment, contact our office to speak with a professional.

Laser hair removal in Fort Worth

No one wants to waste time shaving, waxing, and plucking unwanted hair. Laser hair removal is the newest innovative solution on the block. The results are even more effective when you are treated by an experienced professional. Dr. Mukhtar Anees and the experts at Med Spa at Seena One (Corrective Skin Care)know exactly how to conduct your treatment to maximize your safety and final outcome. Learn if you qualify for laser hair removal. Call our facility in Burleson, TX, and schedule an appointment today.

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light (laser) to remove unwanted hair.

During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.

Although laser hair removal effectively delays hair growth for long periods, it usually doesn't result in permanent hair removal. Multiple laser hair removal treatments are needed for initial hair removal, and maintenance treatments might be needed as well. Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair, but it can be successfully used on all skin types.

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Why it's done

Laser hair removal is used to reduce unwanted hair. Common treatment locations include legs, armpits, upper lip, chin and the bikini line. However, it's possible to treat unwanted hair in nearly any area, except the eyelid or surrounding area. Skin with tattoos should not be treated either.

Hair color and skin type influence the success of laser hair removal. The basic principle is that the pigment of the hair, but not the pigment of the skin, should absorb the light. The laser should damage only the hair follicle while avoiding damage to the skin. Therefore, a contrast between hair and skin color — dark hair and light skin — results in the best outcomes.

The risk of damage to skin is greater when there is little contrast between hair and skin color, but advances in laser technology have made laser hair removal an option for people who have darker skin. Laser hair removal is less effective for hair colors that don't absorb light well: gray, red, blond and white. However, laser treatment options for light-colored hair continue to be developed.

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Risks

Risks of side effects vary with skin type, hair color, treatment plan and adherence to pre-treatment and post-treatment care. The most common side effects of laser hair removal include:

Skin irritation. Temporary discomfort, redness and swelling are possible after laser hair removal. Any signs and symptoms typically disappear within several hours.
Pigment changes. Laser hair removal might darken or lighten the affected skin. These changes might be temporary or permanent. Skin lightening primarily affects those who don't avoid sun exposure before or after treatment and those who have darker skin.

Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin.

Laser hair removal isn't recommended for eyelids, eyebrows or surrounding areas, due to the possibility of severe eye injury.

How you prepare

If you're interested in laser hair removal, choose a doctor who's board certified in a specialty such as dermatology or cosmetic surgery and has experience with laser hair removal on your skin type. If a physician assistant or licensed nurse will do the procedure, make sure a doctor supervises and is available on-site during the treatments. Be cautious about spas, salons or other facilities that allow nonmedical personnel to do laser hair removal.

Before laser hair removal, schedule a consultation with the doctor to determine if this is an appropriate treatment option for you. Your doctor will likely do the following:

Review your medical history, including medication use, history of skin disorders or scarring, and past hair removal procedures
Discuss risks, benefits and expectations, including what laser hair removal can and can't do for you
Take photos to be used for before-and-after assessments and long-term reviews

At the consultation, discuss a treatment plan and related costs. Laser hair removal is usually an out-of-pocket expense.

The doctor will also offer specific instructions to prepare for laser hair removal. These might include:

Staying out of the sun. Follow your doctor's advice for avoiding sun exposure before and after treatment. Whenever you go out, apply a broad-spectrum, SPF30 sunscreen.
Lightening your skin. Avoid any sunless skin creams that darken your skin. Your doctor might also prescribe a skin bleaching cream if you have a recent tan or darker skin.
Avoiding other hair removal methods. Plucking, waxing and electrolysis can disturb the hair follicle and should be avoided at least four weeks before treatment.
Avoiding blood-thinning medications. Ask your doctor about what medications, such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, to avoid before the procedure.
Shaving treatment area. Trimming and shaving is recommended the day before laser treatment. It removes hair above the skin that can result in surface skin damage from burnt hairs, but it leaves the hair shaft intact below the surface.

What you can expect

Laser hair removal usually requires two to six treatments. The interval between treatments will vary depending on the location. On areas where hair grows quickly, such as the upper lip, the treatment might be repeated in four to eight weeks. On areas of slow hair growth, such as the back, the treatment might be every 12 to 16 weeks.

For each treatment you'll wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam. An assistant might shave the site again if necessary. The doctor might apply a topical anesthetic to your skin to reduce any discomfort during treatment.

During the procedure

The doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. Depending on the type of laser, a cooling device on the tip of the instrument or a cool gel might be used to protect your skin and lessen the risk of side effects.

When the doctor activates the laser, the laser beam will pass through your skin to the hair follicles. The intense heat from the laser beam damages the hair follicles, which inhibits hair growth. You might feel discomfort, such as a warm pinprick, and you'll likely feel a sensation of cold from the cooling device or gel.

Treating a small area, such as the upper lip, might take only a few minutes. Treating a larger area, such as the back, might take more than an hour.

After the procedure

You might notice redness and swelling for the first few hours after laser hair removal.

To reduce any discomfort, apply ice to the treated area. If you have a skin reaction immediately after laser hair removal, the doctor might apply a steroid cream to the affected area.

After laser hair removal and between scheduled treatments, avoid sunlight and don't use a tanning bed for six weeks or as directed by your doctor. Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen daily.

Results

Hairs do not fall out immediately, but you will shed them over a period of days to weeks. This may look like continued hair growth. The repeated treatments are usually necessary because hair growth and loss naturally occur in a cycle, and laser treatment works best with hair follicles in the new-growth stage.

Results vary significantly and are difficult to predict. Most people experience hair removal that lasts several months, and it might last for years. But laser hair removal doesn't guarantee permanent hair removal. When hair regrows, it's usually finer and lighter in color.

You might need maintenance laser treatments for long-term hair reduction.

What about home lasers?

Lasers that can be used at home for hair removal are available. These devices might cause modest hair reduction. But there are no large studies comparing how effective these devices are compared with laser hair removal done at a doctor's office.

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers these home laser hair removal devices to be cosmetic, not medical, which means they don't get the same level of scrutiny as other medical devices. Currently, there haven't been large, long-term studies on how safe and effective the home machines are.

If you choose to use a home laser hair removal device, follow the instructions that come with the device to help reduce the risk of injury, especially eye injuries.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Laser hair removal care at Mayo Clinic

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Doctors & Departments

May 04, 2022

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Hair removal. American Society for Dermatological Surgery. https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-conditions/hair-removal. Accessed April 10, 2018.
Shenenberger DW. Removal of unwanted hair. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 26, 2020.
Robinson JK, et al., eds. Laser hair removal. In: Surgery of the Skin. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. https:/www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 26, 2020.
Gan SD, et al. Laser hair removal: A review. Dermatologic Surgery. 2013;39:823.
Hruza GH, et al., eds. Laser hair removal. In: Lasers and Lights: Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 26, 2020.
Hession MT, et al. A review of hand-held, home-use cosmetic laser and light devices. Dermatologic Surgery. 2015;41:307.
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Laser hair removal: Overview. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/hair-removal/laser-hair-removal-overview. Accessed March 27, 2020.
Laser hair removal: FAQs. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/hair-removal/laser-hair-removal-faqs. Accessed March 27, 2020.
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Do dark spots go away after laser hair removal?

After laser hair removal treatments, your skin may appear slightly discolored. This is a temporary side effect and usually goes away on its own within a week or so.

Why are there black dots after laser hair removal?

As soon as an area is treated, little black dots usually appear; this is stubble frying and rising to the surface. Sometimes it looks as if you have more hair after the session than before, but it will shed in the shower. These dots are replaced by red goose bumps (follicular edema).

How long do dark spots last after laser treatment?

The temporary darkening occurs if there is brown pigment in the upper layers of your skin. The darkened area typically begins to fade in 7 to 14 days. This is when you'll also begin to notice that many superficial brown spots around the treated area are becoming lighter, and less noticeable.

How to get rid of dark spots on face after laser hair removal?

Answer: Dark Spots after Laser Hair Removal Options to fade out the spots include hydroquinone and laser treatment (we use the Palomar Q Yag V laser) but the spots will normally resolve on their own as well.