Hair follicles are targeted and destroyed by a concentrated beam of light in the popular cosmetic technique known as laser hair removal. It’s a procedure that can be performed practically anywhere barring the eyelids and their adjacent areas. What, though, if a tattoo covers the area you want to get treated?
Laser hair removal vs. tattoos
Tattoos and laser hair removal are two common cosmetic procedures many people use to improve their looks and self-esteem. However, combining them will not work and may lead to disastrous consequences. Some of the many reasons why tattoos and laser hair removal aren’t a good match:
- The melanin in the hair follicle is what the laser beam focuses on to remove the hair. Tattoos, on the other hand, contain pigment that is permanently inserted under the skin. The laser will destroy both the ink and the hair follicle since it cannot tell the two apart.
- The color and appearance of the tattoo may change after laser hair removal. Because the laser is selective, it can also lessen the intensity of your tattoo’s color or cause the pigment to disperse.
- Laser removal of tattoos is not without its risks, including skin irritation and inflammation. Some tattoo ink may include heavy metals such as mercury and lead, which can be dangerous when exposed to light.
The potential risks of laser hair removal over a tattoo
The potential risks of laser hair removal over a tattoo are:
- Pain, blistering, and scarring can result from laser-induced burns to the skin and tattoo.
- Fading, blurring, and unintended color shifts are all potential side effects of laser tattoo removal.
- Redness, swelling, itching, and pus can appear in the tattooed area after an allergic reaction to the laser or an infection.
- These hazards can impact the appearance and health of your skin and tattoo and may require medical treatment or correction. Therefore, unless you consult a professional and take steps to safeguard your tattoo, laser hair removal should not be performed over a tattoo.
Alternatives to laser hair removal for tattooed skin
For tattooed skin, some options outside laser hair removal include:
- Waxing: Hair can be removed by applying hot or cold wax to the skin and then pulling it off with a cloth strip or a paper strip, a process known as waxing.
- Shaving: This is removing unwanted hair by slicing it off at the skin’s surface with a razor or electric shaver. Shaving can be done on any region of the body, except for the eyelids and the surrounding area.
- Threading: It is a form of hair removal, that involves twisting and pulling out hair from the root with a thin cotton thread. Eyebrows, upper lip, chin, and sideburn hair are the most common areas where threading is performed.
- Electrolysis: It is a method of hair removal that includes putting a small needle into the hair follicle and administering an electric current to destroy the hair root.
Laser hair removal in Vancouver
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and learned something new about laser hair removal and tattoos. If you are looking for a professional and reliable clinic that offers laser hair removal and other cosmetic services, you should check out our clinic. Celebrity Laser Care is a leading clinic in Vancouver that provides high-quality and affordable laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation such as Microdermabrasion and HydraFacial, body contouring such as EMSCULPT NEO and VeleShape II, and more.