#Industry News
Is the diode laser safe for dark skin?
Laser Hair Removal Risks for Dark Skin
The use of laser hair removal has long been discouraged for people with dark skin. For people with darker skin tones, traditional laser technology is not only ineffective, but potentially dangerous, as many primitive lasers can cause hyperpigmentation (discoloration) and skin damage. These patients are forced to use shaving, waxing or other lesser short-term hair removal methods.
Older laser devices have difficulty distinguishing between pigment in hair and pigment in darker skin. Because the pigment attracts the laser, there is a greater risk of burns, blisters or scars when treating darker skin.
Other side effects include hyperpigmentation, darkening of the skin, or or hypopigmentation, lightening of the skin. For these reasons, it has long been assumed that laser treatments are only for people with light-colored skin.
Diode lasers can be safely used on darker skin when the pulses are delivered at a slower rate. To prevent burning, more time is allowed for the skin to cool between each pulse. Newer devices have built-in cooling elements that prevent the skin pigments from overheating.