Researchers warn millions of women could be at risk of scarring and burns because they are unaware of the risks of laser hair removal treatment.

Laser treatment for tanned skin, either naturally or artificially, can cause permanent damage, according to a Which? investigation.

Women who have heart problems, diabetes or taking certain medications including the contraceptive pill should also be wary about getting laser treatment.

An estimated 700,000 British women have already had facial or body hair removed using laser light and as many as six million are considering the permanent solution to excess hair.

Laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) hair removal involves firing a short burst of light at the skin. This is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, which heats up and damages the hair follicle and should prevent hair from re-growing.

However, well-established problems caused by laser and IPL treatment include burns, skin damage, blistering leading to mild scarring and changes in skin pigmentation.

But the majority of 541 women surveyed by Which? were ignorant of the risks and many said they had not been properly informed by salon practitioners.

The survey found 3 per cent of women questioned - equating to around 700,000 in the population - had had laser treatment, and 24 per cent - or six million - were considering it.

Three out of four of these women were unaware that having a natural tan could affect their treatment and just over two-thirds did not realise that even a fake tan would make a difference to the effects of laser on their skin.

More than half did not know that a heart condition could cause complications, and two out of three were unaware that diabetes could influence treatment.

A GP’s advice should be sought by women on acne medication, oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, vitamins and herbal remedies such as St John’s Wort.

Jenny Driscoll, Which? health campaigner, said: ‘No more waxing, shaving and bleaching may seem like the perfect solution for many women, but in the wrong hands, or on the wrong skin, laser hair removal can be dangerous.

‘Women have contacted us who have been badly burned and scarred.

‘As with all cosmetic treatments, we advise everyone to do their homework first, check out the person who will be giving the treatment and be aware of what to expect and ask at their consultation.’

Women who are pregnant or have had treatment for skin cancer should not have treatment, Mrs Driscoll said.

Even when manufacturers issue warnings about the proper use of machines, the information is not always passed on to the consumer, she added.

Campaigners from 30 medical bodies, cosmetic clinics, the industry and patient groups joined forces with Which? last July to oppose Government plans to stop regulating cosmetic laser treatments.

As a result the Government postponed deregulation, which it admitted could have led to 3,400 more patients being harmed each year.

Mrs Driscoll said practitioners must be registered with the Healthcare Commission but there is no ‘foolproof’ system to protect consumers.

‘That’s why it is so important that regulation stays in place and women look after themselves by being aware of potential risks before they go for treatment,’ she added.

Source: Daily Mail

If you don’t have time for laser hair removal, you can now do it yourself at home.

For the first time this medical devices for hair removal, once used exclusively by doctors, is now available for home use.

Jennifer Trollman tested out a hair removal device she can use at home. She said she found it much less painful than waxing. And less irritating than shaving.

“I’d get bumps, redness and my skin would be itchy,” she said.

This silk’n device uses pulsed light to basically knock out the growth center of each hair follicle. Something most patients used to need a doctor to do.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Mingrone, Calfiornia Face and Laser Institute in Palo Alto, said he has sold a dozen of these new home hair removal systems.

“Its quite a breakthrough that this FDA approved home hair removal device is using the same technology we’ve been using in the office for years,” said Dr. Matthew Mingrone.

But are they safe?

“There is risk of scarring with any light device but to keep this safe we ask patients to start slowly and move up with subsequent treatments,” Mingrone said.

And the device will only fire when its depressed against the skin, so you can accidentally fire it into someone’s eyes.

But this light treatment is not recommended for people with dark skin.

The machine costs $800 but Trollman said she was shelling out a hundred dollars per salon wax job. She said its worth the investment.

“Over time we’re saving money because I won’t need to buy a razor and don’t have to wax my legs,” Trollman said.

Source: MSNBC