Laser hair removal is the perfect choice for anyone that has grown tired of shaving, waxing, plucking and other antiquated methods of hair removal. The benefits of laser hair removal include permanent hair reduction, removal of ingrown hairs and it is more cost effective, quicker and less painful than waxing.

The laser works by targeting the melanin (pigment) in the hair follicle to destroy it. Patients with darker skin types should be especially careful when undergoing laser treatments because their skin type is more prone to being attracted by the laser rather than the hair follicle. Patients with dark skin can undergo laser treatments; however, they must be especially careful before doing so. Read below to learn more about laser hair removal or dark skin types.

For the safest and most effective results, laser hair removal must be done by an experienced and skilled technician, especially when treating dark skin patients. A skilled practitioner will know the exact settings to use that won’t burn the surrounding skin but will still provide you with the best results possible. Keep in mind that before undergoing any laser treatment, you must keep the treated area out of the sun for at least 2 weeks prior to your treatment and 2 weeks after your treatment. Dark skin types are more prone to blistering or hyperpigmentation if they are exposed to the sun after laser.

Lastly, the type of laser used during your treatments is very important. The best type of laser to treat dark skin types is a Cutera laser. This is because the Cutera delivers the longest wavelength of all laser types, so it penetrates deeper into the skin, bypassing any damage that may occur at the skin’s surface. If you have dark skin you should make sure the laser clinic you are choosing has this option available.