Laser hair removal has contraindications, like any serious procedure. The good news: there are few of them, and most are temporary - you wait them out or adjust the plan. Below is the list dermatologists use worldwide, and an explanation of why the laser itself is safe for your skin. The final answer always comes from a consultation: at MEDULLA it is free - the specialist examines your skin, asks about medication and sets the power.
Does the laser cause cancer? What oncologists say
There is no evidence that it does. Skin cancer is caused by ultraviolet from the sun and sunbeds and by ionising radiation such as X-rays: they damage the DNA of cells. A hair removal laser works in a different, near-infrared range (755-1064 nm) and heats the hair follicle.
This is what Cancer Council Australia, Australia's national cancer organisation, writes: non-ionising radiation is safe, so for most people laser hair removal is safe. It also notes that the long-term effects of laser, including any cancer risk, have not been studied.
And a caveat from the same organisation: changes in atypical moles have been observed after laser hair removal, so with a personal or family history of skin cancer, or with atypical moles, researchers suggest caution. In those cases we ask you to see a dermatologist first, we always examine the skin before the course, and we do not work over moles - we carefully go around them.
Sources: Cancer Council Australia
Strict contraindications
Active cancer and the period of its treatment - only with your doctor's approval.
Isotretinoin (acne medication such as Accutane or Roaccutane). It slows skin healing and raises the risk of scarring, so the drug's package insert advises waiting about six months after the course. A 2017 consensus of American dermatologic surgeons allows laser hair removal sooner, so the timing is agreed with your doctor.
Pregnancy: we postpone the course - that is worldwide practice. No harm from the laser has ever been proven, but safety has not been confirmed by research either, because studies are simply not run on pregnant women. Breastfeeding is individual: discuss it with your doctor and tell us at the consultation.
Sources: American Pregnancy Association, Dermatologic Surgery, 2017 (PubMed)
Temporary contraindications
A fresh tan or tanning bed. For two weeks before and after the session the skin should be free of an active tan: tanned skin absorbs more light, raising the risk of burns and pigmentation.
Photosensitising medication - drugs that make skin more reactive to light. Most often tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline, for example), fluoroquinolones and even St. John's wort. If you take something regularly, just name it at the consultation and we will check.
Active inflammation in the area: herpes in its active phase, pustules, fresh cuts. We wait until the skin heals.
A recent peel or topical retinoids in the treatment area - the skin needs time to rebuild its protective layer.
Skin conditions: assessed individually
A flare-up of eczema or psoriasis in the treatment area - we wait for remission. Vitiligo and a tendency to keloid scars we discuss at the consultation, with your dermatologist if needed.
Tattoos are no obstacle for the surrounding skin: we never flash over the tattoo itself, we go around it.
What is NOT a contraindication
Darker skin: the hybrid laser combines an alexandrite, a diode and a neodymium, and the specialist chooses the mode for your skin type.
Sensitive skin - contact cooling keeps the session calm. Moles - we do not flash over them, we simply go around. Your period - treatment is fine, sensitivity is just higher; we will happily move the date if you prefer.
How the check works at MEDULLA
Before a course there is a free consultation: we examine your skin, ask about medication and health, set the power and watch how the skin reacts at every visit. If the procedure cannot be done that day, we say so plainly and reschedule. Caution is part of the result you come for.
Reviewed by: MEDULLA team