I just had my first ever laser treatment. The technician told me with my fair complexion and dark hair on my chin and neck I am the perfect candidate. I have a high pain tolerance but yes it hurt! The skin wasnt but a little red when I left the office, but the next morning…wow…scary…Red swollen and bumps of all different sizes some look like large pimples. Needless to say I FREAKED and didnt go out of the house for several days. Is this normal? the bumps? and swelling etc…or should i cancel my next appt with her? I dont know what type of laser she used, I do know she iced my skin before and after the treatment and that hurt almost as bad as the treatment itself. And the laser had a cool tip. Maybe I just need more information. Anybody that knows if these side effects are normal…please let me know. I have read from a few about something called Pupora…and that this is a good thing…just not sure. Please help! thanks!
~Rowdy~
This is well within the normal range of reactions to treatment. You need to keep the area clean and dry, while using aloe, and perhaps Aloe-Cortisone to sooth the skin while it heals. Tea Tree Oil for overnight healing is a great thing as well.
Stay out of the sun, and use the best, highest protection sunblocks you can get your hands on and use them religiously for 6 weeks after every treatment. If you have any oozing or skin breaks, you should not use sunblock until the skin breaks are closed.
Sounds like you got pretty aggressive treatment on some fairly dark and coarse hairs. This is good in the long term for damaging the follicles, but in the short term it does cause more side effects. The extra skin cooling you got kept it from looking worse, so it sounds as if your technician is aggressive but knowledgeable. Time will tell!
Be sure to follow the instructions James gave about avoiding ANY sun on the treated area.
It sounds very much like my first laser treatment. I looked frightening for about 2-3 weeks and then just plain horrible for another few weeks after that. I still, a year later, have some splotchy discoloration on my neck in the areas that looked blistered after my first treatment. My technician was very experienced and came highly recommeded. She uses the Lightsheer Diode and I was also a “perfect” candidate with light skin and dark hair. I curse the day I ever had this done on my face and have had a HUGE amount of regrowth. In fairness to the laser, the results on my chest and abdomen were the polar opposite, i.e. no regrowth, no skin irritation or discoloration, near perfect results. Why the face is so different, I don’t know.
Lana
As has been said many times before here, the problem with LASER is you don’t know what your result will be no matter the skill of the operator, and even how well treatment has gone in other areas. I have the same type of damage five years later in the areas that very good LASER folks treated me to try to prove that dark skin could now be safely treated. Imagine how embarrassed they were. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
James,
Thanks so much for easing my mind about these side effects. I can deal with all the pain and suffering and embarassment as long as I know its within the normal realm. It looks better today, still a bit lumpy but scabbing over now and not nearly as scary as the day after treatment. I have another appt with her in a little less than 6 weeks so it is nice to know what to expect anyways. I figure if it reduces my hair on my chin at least 50% thats awesome. I spent yrs plucking it for at least an hr a day most days of the week, that is alottttt of my life I could have been spending with friends and family or enjoying something i wanted to do. I just had to say thanks again to you and everybody who responded, my mind is eased so much. All the best to you all!
~Di~
Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture** . Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin
Skin irritation is one of the most frequent side effects of laser hair removal. Following laser hair removal, temporary discomfort, redness, and swelling are possible. Symptoms and indications usually go away within a few hours.
Color shifts. The afflicted skin may become darker or lighter after laser hair removal.