The risks involved with facial and body hair removal methods are minimal. Yet, there are a few to be aware of, and many of them are technique-specific.
With laser treatment, though no skin-allergy test is needed beforehand, the laser must be calibrated to each individual because everyone reacts differently to the intensity of the beam. Some people blister from a laser set too high for their skin type. Pigmentation problems can also result. Most doctors will first use the laser in small bursts and at different powers on a dime-sized area of your skin to see how it reacts.
Though laser treatment is an effective method of hair removal, if you have dark skin and dark hair, the technique can cause skin discoloration. Laser light has been known to make the treated patches of skin lighter than the rest of your skin. If this occurs, it means the laser was too hot for the skin to handle. But permanent skin discoloration is rare.
Laser light also has the potential to damage your eyes. You, as well as your doctor and any technicians in the room, must wear safety goggles during the procedure.
Epilation can cause a small, noticeable scar around the treated hair; if you scar easily, you should consider another method of hair removal.
If you are dark-skinned, you may develop patches that are darker or lighter than your normal skin color around the treated areas. For this reason, the ideal epilation candidate is a light-skinned, light-haired person. If you opt for epilation, doctors usually recommend first doing a small test around the area you would like treated before going ahead with the procedure.
There is also a slight risk of bacterial infection from epilation. If a treated hair becomes red or is oozing a puss-like fluid, call your doctor immediately.
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