Risks of Laser Treatment

The word laser stands for light amplification by "stimulated emission of radiation". This radiated energy can treat many skin conditions, from removing birth marks and tattoos to preventing or reducing excess hair growth. Many different types of laser exist but the side effects are similar for each type.

Skin Irritation

• As the laser is a form of energy and therefore affects the cells in the skin, lasers can sometimes cause skin irritation. The treatment can also make the skin crusty and sometimes it scabs over. These side effects are merely temporary. Some types of laser, such as a pulsed dye laser, may also cause temporary bruising of the skin.

  Some older versions of lasers, such as argon lasers, can injure the cells of the area through excess heat and cause burns but argon lasers are not commonly used. Laser treatment to reverse signs of ageing removes a layer of skin and so the skin can remain red and sore for a few weeks after the treatment. During this time the skin is also more prone to infection.

Temporary Pigmentation Changes

• A course of laser treatment can also change the color of the skin it is treating. This is a desirable effect of some lasers that practitioners use to treat pigmented lesions such as port wine stains, tattoos or even freckles. However, pigmentation changes are a risk of all laser treatments, whether specifically designed for this purpose or not. The laser may either lighten or darken the skin but these effects are usually temporary.

Permanent Issues

• A small risk of laser treatment is the potential for scarring or blistering the skin. The skin may also change in texture. Laser treatment to remove hair may inadvertently cause hair outside the treated area to grow more. Lasers are also not a definite cure for conditions such as pigmented lesions or hairiness. Sometimes the lesions can return after treatment. Hair may resist the course of laser treatment or the hair can grow back, although usually the returning hair is finer and of a lighter color than before.

Risk Factors

• People with dark skin are more at risk of pigmentation changes than people with lighter skin tones. A person with an existing dormant herpes infection may find the infection flares up after laser treatment.