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Does Laser Hair Removal damage tattoos?

Many people get tattoos without knowing it may affect their laser hair removal. We see every week with a new tattoo and have to tell them we are not able laser hair over the area where the fresh tattoo is. (IPL cannot be performed either). This blog will hope to clear up…

By Mary Basiadima, 13 2019

Many people get tattoos it may affect their We see clients every week with a new tattoo and have to tell them we are not able perform laser hair removal over the area where the fresh tattoo is. (IPL cannot be performed either). This blog will hope to clear up the confusion about if it does laser hair removal damage ?

Today there is almost no part of the body that cant and hasn’t been tattooed! Places that used to be off limits like face, neck and hands are no longer off limits. This for people wanting to be hair free and also for laser .

Not long ago, tattoos were mainly on upper arms so hair removal wasn’t much of an issue. Also laser hair or tattoos were not as common as they are now.

If you do not have a tattoo yet, but are about getting one, and it is going to be in an area where you are about hair growth, the best thing to do would be to be prepared, have laser hair before you have your tattoo – if you want to keep the area smooth and hair free after the tattoo.

Some areas are naturally hair free so there is no need to worry. If you are planning your next tattoo on your forearms or legs, which are hairier, then plan ahead and get laser hair removal before you get the tattoo done.

You will have to wait a number of weeks after the laser hair removal before you are able to get your tattoo done. This gives the skin a chance to heal as laser hair does destroys hair and you need to give your skin a chance to recover. So once you have a tattoo lets what your are.

One of the key if you are thinking about laser hair removal and have tattoos is where is the tattoo located? If you have a tattoo that is on your ribs and wish to have laser hair you are to face any issues.

Large tattoos in areas where hair growth is such as on your arms, if you have a sleeve, or back or on your legs or in more places!

Now for the bad news laser hair removal cannot be done over tattoos. Only the areas around the tattoo itself. The larger the tattoo, the greater the hair by laser.

There have been in the press of laser hair removal being done over a tattoo, by an unregulated clinic or untrained, inexperienced employee, which have in serious third degree burns attention.

How to cover up a tattoo for laser hair removal

If you still want to do laser hair with a tattoo, then experienced practitioners will be able to create a cover for the tattoo and then target the area, usually around 2-3cm between the tattoo and the lasered skin. 

As long as the laser does not go near the tattoo you will be fine. You can ask the to mark around the tattoo with their white pen as an extra precaution. Medical tape or plasters are not necessary. Although be warned using this treatment may lighten the colour of the tattoo and could still damage the tattooed skin. The most important thing you can do is find an experienced practitioner you can trust.

Laser hair treatment works targeting the melanin or in the skin using of light.

This light energy attacks the hair follicle and prevents it from growing back. Lasers cannot tell the difference between dark in a hair follicle or in a tattoo. A dark colour is a dark colour to a laser. Laser light is automatically drawn to the dark colour to it. Unfortunately laser hair technology that can tell the between the two doesn’t yet exist, but may one day.

If laser hair was performed  over a tattoo the laser would have trouble accurately finding the pigment in the hair as there would be from the tattoo surrounding, the laser.

So you have the double effect of poor laser hair and tattooed skin to the laser which could cause severe scarring or long term issues to the skin. So bad all round.

Also different lasers are used for and hair removal. What about IPL?

Can you use IPL on tattoos?

IPL are not classified as lasers. They are full-spectrum . Like a flash on a camera. They are good for certain skin like and rosacea. Not as effective for laser for hair removal. We would not IPL for laser hair and you the same issues with your that you have with IPL.

If you are eager to remove the hair on a tattoo, don’t fret as there is a that can be used as a substitute.  Electrolysis treatments avoid the risk of and damage to the tattoo itself.

Professional treatment is and the results are highly effective and can ease your concerns about hair. You will not get the same results as having laser hair but it is the next best thing.

Of course, if you are genuinely about the hair on your body then you could also decide what is more important: a tattoo or skin? If it is the latter, you could look at having the tattoo then waiting for a period of time, before undertaking the laser hair removal. At Premier Laser we do offer tattoo removal and laser hair removal.

Why not book a   so we can have a look at your tattoo and hair growth and discuss any treatment plans along with a patch test to check your suitability.

epilation could be the way forward although not as as laser hair it is still an option for you to be hair free. Then there are always the traditionally ways ofor waxing. Yes, they are a hassle and need to be constantly done but they are the so you can enjoy hair free skin.

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