Hello, I am African American woman who has received laser hair removal treatments on my upper/lower lip over 4 years ago. The company that I rcvd the treatments from have since gone out of business. I have a dark mark above and below my lip where the laser was placed. These areas often become irritated when my skin is dry or if I atempt to tone the areas with any cream containing hydroquinone. The marks seem to lighten for a short period of time with the use of the creams but, soon darkens again, sometimes becoming even darker.
When the spots become dry or irritated the skin cracks sometimes appears as a scab and bleeds when cracked. I did not think that my skin would still be affected 4 years later. When the spots are not dry or irritated it does not look like a burn scar. The spots just looks like a dark spot or a birthmark. Is there a known treatment for this? Is there any way that I would be able to permantly fade the dark spots? Help, what can I do to retain my normal skin texture and tone in those areas.
You should be asking a dermatologist these questions. I am a little concerned about skin bleeding and scabbing four years, on and off. I do hope the hair is gone after all this. If the burns were deep, I’m not sure that you can do anything about the spots. Only your doctor can advise you on this one.
Unfortunatly, I still have hair growth in these areas. I only rcvd one treatment in each area. If this was caused by a deep burn wouldn’t it have healed permanently afer 4 years? From a R.N’s standpoint, have you seen laser burns that look similar to what I have described and that can have recurring symptoms? It is just really odd because the spots do not have the surface of a burn when not irritated… The marks are just dark and very unattractive.
As a practicing electrologist (and R.N.), I have not seen damage on a clients skin from laser hair reduction as you describe. I work on many women of color, too, that come to me for the hair that laser did not affect. I have seen horrible pictures of dark skin clients that have been burned though. All ususally heals well, just as with electrolysis, but lasting damage can occur from either modality if one receives too much energy that penetrates to the deeper layers of skin. With electroloysis, this is very rare and I am assuming the same goes for laser hair reduction.
I really think that you should do two things: alert whatever doctor you see about this skin reaction due to one laser treatment and have them advise you about what can be done to make it better. We are not permitted to give medical advice here and I know you understand why that is an ethical way to conduct ourselves on this website.
I do feel so very bad for you because this is your face. In the future, a skilled, modern electrologist who continues his or her education will get you hair-free - permanently and no one will ever know your secret while you are having this done. This is an ultimate form of freedom for women and men, truly changing their outlook on life, self-esteem and relationships. I love working on women of color. I actually think hair removal is easier on darker skin and it is so dramatic to watch the the hyperpigmentation gradually fade as the hair is permanently “destroyed”.
We’d love to know how you handle this, so please come back and share what you are advised to do. There are thousands of people worldwide that tune in here and you will be paying forward for some distraught woman, somewhere on this planet, who is suffering the same thing as you, but just is not reporting it here on hairtell.