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Incidence of side effects after laser hair removal
1Birmingham Skin Center, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Ann@lasercarebirmingham.fsnet.co.uk
Background:
Despite the widespread use of lasers for hair removal there are few data published on the incidence of side effects from this treatment.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to generate data on a large number of patients receiving laser hair removal to obtain an accurate assessment of the incidence and type of side effects resulting from treatment.
Methods:
A multicenter prospective study of patients presenting for laser hair removal was conducted to determine incidence of side effects in relation to skin type and laser or lasers used.
Results:
Laser hair removal is associated with a low incidence of side effects that are self-limiting in the majority of cases. The highest incidence of side effects was seen in patients with darker skin treated with the long-pulsed ruby laser.
Conclusions:
Laser hair removal is inherently safe. For darker Fitzpatrick skin types the long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser is preferred to the ruby laser.
