Quick answer: Laser hair removal can play a part in reducing some of the causes and exacerbating factors of acne, but it’s a complex condition that needs specialist dermatological help.

You might have heard that laser hair treatment can be used to get rid of acne. Well, it’s partly true, but nobody should think that it’s a cure. The good news is that laser hair removal can help with some of the causes of acne, but it’s more of a side-effect than a direct target. Many people with acne do report an improvement after hair removal treatment with lasers, and there are several reasons for that. In this article, we’ll have a look at what acne is, and how laser treatment can play a small but important part in reducing it.

 

What causes acne?

For decades, acne was a mysterious condition associated mainly with teenagers. Unfortunately, it was often wrongly associated with poor hygiene or a diet heavy in greasy foods, but the science has caught up and these theories are no longer seriously entertained. 

Acne seems to develop when a few factors come together to create the perfect environment for breakouts. The main causes are:

• Excess oil production. Your sebaceous glands produce sebum (natural oil) to keep skin moisturised. Sometimes these glands go into overdrive, producing too much oil, which can clog pores.

• Dead skin cells. Everybody’s skin constantly sheds dead cells, but sometimes they don’t remove themselves properly. They can then stick together and block hair follicles, mixing with oil to form plugs.

• Bacteria. “Cutibacterium acnes” is a bacteria that lives on the skin. When pores become clogged, they get trapped in the oil and dead skin, triggering inflammation.

• Inflammation. Your immune system responds to the bacterial growth and clogged pores with inflammation, creating the redness, swelling and sometimes pain.

• Ingrown hairs. Clogged follicles can lead to ingrown hairs, but hairs can grow into the skin for other reasons too. It all adds to the discomfort and appearance of acne.

• Hormones. Androgens increase during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy or conditions like PCOS, and this stimulates more oil production, which only adds to existing issues.

• Genetics. If your parents had acne, you’re more likely to develop it too.

• Certain medications. It’s thought that corticosteroids, lithium and some birth control pills play a part in acne symptoms getting worse.

• Stress. Although it’s not thought to directly cause acne, stress is believed to worsen existing breakouts.

• Diet. Research suggests high-glycemic foods and dairy might contribute, though some people are affected more than others.

• Skincare products. Some products can clog pores, which will make acne worse.

• Friction or pressure on the skin. This seemingly innocent action is also thought to make outbreaks worse. It can come from clothing, shaving or even holding a phone against the skin.

As you can see, there are a number of causes, and when they act together, they can add up to a more serious problem. As well as the visible cosmetic effects, acne can be painful, feeling like shingles or a bad graze, so anything that can be done to help reduce the symptoms is certainly welcome to those suffering.

 

Can laser hair removal help?

If you’ve read some of our other articles about laser hair removal, you’ll understand how it works. To summarise, the laser enters the hair follicle and heats up the melanin (the pigment that gives hair its colour) so much that it destroys the follicle and prevents it from ever growing hair again.

The reason you need several sessions is because each hair is at a different stage of growth, and sometimes there is not enough melanin-containing hair in a given follicle to heat up. Also, the laser doesn’t have a 100% hit rate – sometimes it does reach a follicle at the right time but doesn’t destroy it.

So what does this have to do with acne? If you look at the list of potential causes of acne above, you might notice a few areas where laser hair removal coincides with them. And there are also side-effects of laser treatment that incidentally help with some of the causes, too.

Most obviously, laser hair removal may help with acne that’s related to hair follicles.

• Folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicles, and it can look like acne. Destroying the follicle at source can cut out this particular cause.

• Ingrown hairs can cause acne-like bumps, and these are especially common in areas that are frequently shaved. If there’s no hair to grow inwardly, this cause is eliminated. 

• The heat from the laser can also kill off bacteria in follicles that contribute to acne formation – it’s a side effect, but one that can be welcome if bacteria are causing the acne. 

• If shaving is causing the irritation, then removing the need to shave is going to help.

The last thing we would want to do at LaserHQ is to build up your expectations about laser hair removal helping with acne. As we have explained above, there is quite a long list of elements that go into the development of acne, and a lot of them are completely independent of the others – there’s no single root cause that can eliminate the acne. 

That said, there is plenty of evidence that the types of acne that are directly linked to hair growth can often be helped by a few sessions of laser hair removal. Acne appears to be a condition that can be quite mild if there is only one cause, but can get significantly worse as extra factors are added. Laser hair removal might tackle one or more of those “extra factors”.

As with any medical condition, your first port of call should be with your medical professional, in this case a dermatologist. They will be able to assess your particular condition and recommend appropriate treatment. That might mean creams containing retinoids, antibiotics or other ingredients, or they could recommend oral medications. However, they might also recommend a skin peel, injections or laser treatment. If it’s this last option, we would be honoured to play a part in helping you with your condition.

 

Is laser hair removal safe for sensitive skin?

Quick answer: yes, lasers can be used for hair removal on sensitive skin. The therapist will need to make some adjustments, and there are times when laser treatment isn’t recommended, but in general, it is fine.

There’s good news for people with sensitive skin who want to explore laser hair removal. Modern laser technology has come a long way, and there are options specifically designed for people with sensitive skin. In fact, there are thousands of people with conditions like rosacea, eczema and other skin conditions who have successfully had laser hair removal.

However, it ultimately comes down to the skill and knowledge of the therapist doing the work, as well as your medical specialist if you have a known condition. For example, an expert will know that some lasers are gentler than others on sensitive skin. Nd:YAG lasers are often better for sensitive skin because they penetrate deeper with less surface irritation. Diode lasers with cooling mechanisms can also work well.

 

Your consultation

Whether you have sensitive skin or not, everything starts with your consultation. Our experts will talk you through the procedure, and it is your opportunity to let them know about any skin issues you have, including sensitivity. That will determine the entire course of treatment from then on.

It’s likely that the therapist will start with a small patch test, and use lower energy settings just to see how your skin reacts. If there are no unusual side effects, further tests can be carried out with increasing power. The more powerful the laser, the more effective it is, and the fewer sessions you’ll need, but as you would expect, your safety and wellbeing is our primary concern. In rare cases, skin is too sensitive for even the mildest level of power, in which case we would not recommend laser treatment.

 

Preparation is everything

Once you’re through the testing phase and we’re all happy with the results, we can start your full sessions at the clinic. Again, your safety and comfort are important to us, so we would not recommend that you have laser treatment during flare-ups of your skin condition if it is prone to ups and downs. If you have eczema, rosacea or psoriasis in the area being treated, wait until it has calmed down before proceeding.

We would recommend that anyone booked in for laser hair removal avoids prolonged or intense exposure to the sun, and not to use tanning booths, for a few weeks before treatment. This rule is even more important for those with sensitive skin.

In the weeks before your sessions, keep covered up and stay indoors and or in the shade as much as possible. 

Use a strong sun block (SPF30 or higher), even if it doesn’t feel particularly sunny. UV rays can penetrate clouds, and can bounce off snow and sand, so this could tip sensitive skin past the comfortable threshold. Some people with sensitive skin avoid laser treatment completely in the summer months, but it’s really up to you, and how possible it is for you to avoid the sun.

Another precaution to take is to stop using retinoids, acids and other potentially irritating products a few days before your visit. If you have sensitive skin, you probably don’t use them anyway, but do bear it in mind, as it all adds up.

Laser treatment or skin products alone might be fine for you, but in combination, they could lead to extra sensitivity or irritation. Keep the area well-moisturised, too, but make sure you use gentle, fragrance-free products. This applies both before and after your laser treatment.

 

What to look out for after treatment

People with sensitive skin might be a little more prone to slightly stronger after-effects following the laser session, compared to people with normal skin. For example, you might see increased redness that lasts longer than would typically be the case, and there could be a more pronounced swelling or mild burning sensation.

Temporary hyperpigmentation (skin darkening) or hypopigmentation (skin lightening) are relatively common post-laser effects. It affects people of all skin types, but sensitive skin is slightly more prone, with hyperpigmentation being more likely. Both tend to normalise after a few months, and it’s not usually very noticeable. 

There are reports of blistering occurring after treatment, but this really only happens if the laser settings are too powerful. It should not be a problem if you use a reputable laser clinic and have had a thorough assessment, as covered above.

Make sure you regularly check the area that has been treated after your sessions, to help reassure yourself. Mild after-effects are common, and pass within a few days, and some known effects like pigmentation issues can take a little longer. It’s all part of your post-treatment assessment, and any information you can give us will help with subsequent treatments.

 

Work with your doctor

If you have a known skin condition that is being treated medically, make sure you talk with your doctor or skin specialist about your intention to get laser hair removal.

They might see no problems at all, or they might give you some specific information that will be useful for the laser therapist. On rare occasions, if your sensitivity is severe, they might recommend that you don’t have laser hair removal. That’s why it’s so important to talk it over with the doctor.

When it comes to laser hair removal, people with sensitive skin might need to jump through a few more hoops than those with normal skin, but it’s all to ensure safe, comfortable and effective treatment.

For many, it compares favourably with their existing forms of hair removal, be that waxing, shaving, electrolysis or epilation. So if you’re thinking about laser hair removal, why not book a consultation with us?