Does Laser Hair Removal damage tattoos?

Many people get without it may affect their laser hair . 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 either). This blog will hope to clear up…

By Mary Basiadima, 13 2019

Many people get tattoos it may affect their We see 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 either). This blog will hope to clear up the confusion about if it does laser hair damage tattoos?

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 presents challenges for people wanting to be hair free and also for laser .

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

If you do not have a tattoo yet, but are thinking about getting one, and it is going to be in an area where you are concerned 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 hair free so there is no need to worry. If you are your next tattoo on your or legs, which are hairier, then plan ahead and get laser hair 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 hair and you need to give your skin a chance to . So once you have a tattoo lets what your options are.

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

Large 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 discreet places!

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

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

How to cover up a tattoo for laser hair removal

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

Laser hair removal works by targeting the melanin or in the skin using wavelengths of light.

This light energy attacks the hair follicle and prevents it from growing back. Lasers cannot tell the between dark pigment in a hair follicle or in a tattoo. A dark colour is a dark colour to a laser. Laser light is drawn to the dark colour to destroy it. Unfortunately laser hair 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 accurately finding the pigment in the hair as there would be pigment from the tattoo surrounding, the laser.

So you have the double effect of poor laser hair removal and exposing 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 . What about IPL?

Can you use IPL on tattoos?

IPL are not classified as lasers. They are essentially flashlamps. Like a flash on a camera. They are good for treating certain skin conditions like and . Not as effective for laser for hair . We would not recommend IPL for laser hair and you encounter 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 process that can be used as a substitute.  Electrolysis treatments avoid the risk of scarring and damage to the tattoo itself.

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

Of course, if you are 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 removed then waiting for a period of time, before undertaking the laser hair . 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 any plans along with a patch test to check your .

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

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