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Laser Hair Removal: the Hidden Risks
Holidaymakers having laser hair removal in preparation for escaping the British weather should do their research and consider the risks, new findings warn.
Almost two fifths of people thinking about having cosmetic treatments consider cost to be the most important factor in their decision and only 14 per cent consider the risks, according to research from Which?
But, with around 3,000 unlicensed and unregulated providers of laser hair removal in the UK a lot of people could damage their skin if they don't properly research the practitioner they intend to use. Having laser hair removal treatment while being tanned or just before going out in the sun can cause burning, scarring, blisters or changes in skin colour.
“Remember to stay out of the sun before and after having laser hair removal treatment as your skin may have a reaction. Plan it for a time when you know you won’t be in the sun,” says Which? Health campaigner Frances Blunden. “If you are having laser hair removal treatment, make sure that the clinic is licensed and the practitioner properly qualified. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself in the hands of untrained staff who don’t explain all the possible risks.”
Laser hair removal is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the UK - in 2005, 166,000 treatments were carried out and the market is worth £41.5 million. Which? is now asking the government to ensure there is stricter regulation in place so that people are better protected.
“When you have laser hair removal the laser itself targets the pigment in your hair in order to destroy it,” says Mr David Gault, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the Portland Hospital, London. “Unfortunately, when the skin is tanned, the deeper melanin colour of the skin can also become a target. Therefore in some unfortunate cases, the patient’s skin can be left patchy and mottled – not the look they were expecting. In some cases the appearance is actually leopard-like – with white spots.”
Treatment should only be carried out by a trained operator who must have at least a BTEC qualification in light based treatments, or the equivalent, or be a qualified health professional.
Make sure you ask if they have experience in treating different skin and hair colours, and ask to see the clinic’s Healthcare Commission registration number. If they aren’t registered, you should walk away. During the procedure, remember that laser hair removal can be painful, so be prepared. Ensure you are given special goggles to protect your eyes, and understand that your skin will be red and sensitive after treatment.
Nearly 700,000 cosmetic procedures were undertaken in Britain last year and 84 per cent were non-surgical. According to an estimate by the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service, there are around 4,000 unlicensed laser hair removal providers in the UK. According to the Healthcare Commission, there are just 960 that are actually regulated in England.
Laser hair removal isn’t the only type of seemingly harmless cosmetic procedure that can go horribly wrong. For more on preventing botox accidents, Click Here.
To find out which procedures are the most popular in the UK, Click Here.