Can laser penetrate the skin?

No, laser does not penetrate the skin. Laser light penetrates the skin by less than one millimetre. As skin absorbs light, there is no laser effect beyond one millimetre into the skin. No side effect of laser beyond the lower layers of the skin has been reported in the literature to date.

Why should tanning be avoided when having an epilation session?

The laser light beam is concentrated on hairs which are often loaded with melanin. Tanned skin has a high melanin concentration and as a result, laser beams are no longer directed at the hair and can reach the melanin in the skin. There is thus a considerable risk of burns or pigmentation disorders if the skin is exposed to the sun prior to an epilation session.

Why is it necessary to shave before laser epilation?

When the hair is long, laser loses its energy on the visible part of the hair which also contains melanin. The hair bulb is therefore only partially destroyed and can regrow. If the hair is shaved, the treatment is more effective as laser energy is concentrated only on the melanin contain in the hair bulb to be destroyed.

Why isn’t laser epilation offered in beauty salons?

Laser can only be used in a medical context because using the equipment requires extensive training and a medical examination of the patient. It can only be sold to doctors.

Is there a risk to using laser when the patient is pregnant?

No problem relating to foetal or newborn development linked to the use of laser treatment has been reported in the literature. However, it is advisable to wait before starting laser treatment and therefore to stop treatment until pregnancy and breastfeeding are over. During pregnancy, unusual hormonal phenomena occur some of which relate to hormones that stimulate hair growth.