WARNING - Laser burns

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Thought I’d make a new topic on this to make people aware of the dangers involved with lasers.

The following are photos of laser burns caused by a lightsheer laser mainly at a setting of 35J using a 9mm handpiece.

I wouldn’t consider these settings particularly aggressive. My advise is to spot test thoroughly. In saying that, I had my shoulders treated at 45J with no ill-effects so I wouldn’t even count on a spot test tbh. Just be aware of the risk of burns I guess.

Note: my skin is white like in the first photo. The others are taken at night with a weak phone flash which is making my skin seem darker/yellowish

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#2

Oh man these are brutal. If you google laser burns, they almost always look exactly like this and are almost always from LightSheer, because it has that clear gliding motion where you see the squares that are burned then a space between them. You also see as well on darker people similar results but big rectangle burns which were clearly caused by IPL. I didn’t even realize those were your pics at first since they look so much like the typical burns you see online which always seem to be caused by LightSheer. ie:

http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/portalfiles/1/2/200905/Image/200509/02-01.jpg

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It’s so annoying though that that’s even possible, keep putting ice on it and creams and I’m sure it will go away soon. I think it really has to be in large part either something wrong with the technician, such as they lied about the settings or made a mistake in them, or something wrong with the machine. You shouldn’t be able to do 45J on your shoulders no problem then burn so badly on your front at 35J, but I don’t know anything about LightSheer. On the positive side, I’ve been in this forum almost a year now, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone come on here asking for help that they’ve been burned, especially like that. So in general the risk I think is low when you look at the total number of people treated in a year and the total number of burns. What sucks in your case though is that there’s no reason for it. It’s one thing to be skin type 5 or something and go for an IPL or Alexandrite laser treatment which clearly is wrong. Hope it gets better soon!!!

#3

Thanks. Hopefully there won’t be any long term hyper pigmentation or scars.

Those were definitely the settings used because I was keeping an eye on them. It was on auto so pulse duration of about 18ms (half the joules)

Could have been a machine malfunction but impossible to know. They say they checked it and it was fine but who knows…

#4

Did you go to a doctor or what not? I probably would just to make sure you get proper cream or what not to make sure it goes away without scarring. Polysporin or something would probably help if they have it there but probably a good idea to go to a clinic just to get a proper cream or what not just to get rid of it as quick as possible. On the positive side, once the burns go away hopefully you’ll have one wicked treatment with complete shedding!!!

#5

They had a doctor there who prescribed me the steroid prednisone orally. And gave me some bactroban anti bacterial cream to prevent infections.

I went back to the clinic today and they rubbed a couple of different creams in. Not sure what kind.

I still have 6 sessions left. I could cancel, try to get some money back, and perhaps look at using a gentlelase later.

They have a different lightsheer machine at another clinic so could perhaps try that on lower settings. Pretty scared of the lightsheer now though tbh. Come to think of it, pretty over lasers period.

edit: it’s actually 3 more sessions (total of 5) with 3 ‘touch ups’ which seem to me to be just extra sessions (assuming there is hair left)

#6

I’d probably try to get your money back. Did you sign anything saying they’re not responsible if they burn you? If not it should be easy to get your money back considering what they did to you. If anything I’d imagine they wouldn’t want anything to do with you now lol

#7

It is quite possibly the result of a machine malfunction. They would probably not admit it. There is really no reason for your skin to react to these settings any differently.

#8

I didn’t sign anything. I payed about $2200 for 8 sessions on front and back.

The more I think about it the angrier I’m becoming. This just shouldn’t be possible with my skin tone on those settings. Feel like I should be suing either the clinic or lumenis.

Good chance I’ll be seeing some permanent hypo/hyper pigmentation here. Complete joke it is

#9

I think if there is any permanent redness left over on the skin afterwards, it can be removed with some form of ipl machine. Its the same machine that is used for removing thread vains and brown beauty spots. I had fraxel laser done on a small area on my chest for acne scars but the settings were too aggresive and it left the treated area permanently reddish afterward. An ipl machine was used - I think about three treatments - and the skin colour went back to normal. The Private Clinic, Harley street, they do it or at least info can be found on their website.

If your clinic also does other treatments, including thread vain removal, you might be able to get them to treat any redness for free as it only takes about ten minutes over three sessions.

After my treatment the area looked like a war zone. When the swelling and the flaking and all that jazz went away, the area was visibly red, and stayed red. Anyway, the clinic offered free sesions (on some form of ipl machine, 10mins once every four weeks totalling three sess) and now the redness is gone!

I dont know if redness is the same as the skin pigmentation you are talking about but it might be treatable in the same way.

Hope this helps.

#10

If you’re lucky enough to be left with red spots, those are actually pretty easy to get rid of. Hyperpigmentation (dark marks) are also easy to fade with hydroquinone or other lightening creams. And yes, ironically, even different types of laser or light-based treatments can remove uneven skintone.

It’s the HYPOpigmentation (white patches) you have to worry about. If you get those, they don’t tend to go away.

#11

If you read past posts by expert SSLHR on this forum, he constantly reassured people that this type of burn resolves itself without leaving permanent side effects. I would go to a dermatologist and get a cream to speed up the healing.

#12

I had a similar experience only once during my dozens of laser treatments. The good news is that, after 4 months or so, the burns had faded enough to resume (cautiously) treatment. The bad news is that I had lingering, gradually fading scars that took about 2 years to disappear completely.

In my case, it was attributed to a faulty laser that needed service (but they may have simply said that if they made a mistake on the fluence setting). It was exacerbated by a lack of cooling ice packs (ideally before, during and after treatment) which I later always used to minimize the risk of skin burns.

#13

Did you have any test patches done before you started treatments? How soon after the treatment were the burns apparent?

Questions for the experts: Is it difficult for techs to realize whether they are burning people during treatments? I assume that such scars don’t appear during treatment.
Every clinic makes you sign these clever legal waivers/contracts before they ever touch you. When you sign these contracts does it mean that the clinics can not be sued or be held responsible for anything that happens to you?

#14

It’s mostly for the insurance companies to cover them if something happens.

#15

I would demand that when your skin heals and at the end of your treatment (assuming you continue with them) they treat any hyperpigmentation left over. By then the pigment should be quite faded and I’m sure they can take care of any leftover pigment. I once went to a consultation where the nurse hinted that one time her machine burned someone and she was able to use her machines to fix the damage for free and the customer was ultimately happy. Thanks for the photos. I had no idea this could happen.

#16

From what I can see from these pics, you have exactly the same skin/body hair configuration as me. If the other posters are correct, you shouldn’t have trouble clearing those hyperpigmentation spots up with IPL.

Chin up and good luck, mate!

#17

Thanks for the comments/advise.

I had a test spot on shoulders at 45J because they are slightly darker (saw some sun in a singlet.) There were no ill-effects and I had my full shoulders treated without problem the day before.

So to suddenly have these burns the next day at 35J the only conclusion I can come to is the machine has malfunctioned.

I know it was set at 35J (38J in some spots) because I always keep an eye on it.

They use an icy cold gel before and after treatment.

I’m 99% sure I didn’t sign anything before treatment. I certainly don’t remember signing anything. It’s all feels pretty unregulated in Thailand.

The ‘tech’ prob could have noticed the burns earlier and stopped. It was pretty obvious as soon as I looked down and saw white blistering everywhere.

They have denied there is anything wrong with their machine but I don’t believe them for a minute.

Interesting case here http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/laser-hair-removal-c82283.html where girl got 425K. Feel like suing tbh

#18

I am sorry this has happened! Be sure to see at least one dermatologist for an examination and corrective treatment. Keep a copy of the exam record. Then I would definitely call a lawyer.

#19

Probably the reason she received a settlement of that size is that it made her unable to function in her career (since she modeled and things). That always makes for a big payday. Also it sounds like her scars are permanent (yours won’t be, I suspect and hope). I don’t know how this sort of suit will be handled since the company is in Thailand. Are you a resident of Thailand, or just visiting? Hopefully that won’t complicate things for you legally.

I would still take legal action, but don’t be too disappointed if all you win is the amount needed to cover your medical bills and nothing extra. You probably won’t be getting half a million. :stuck_out_tongue:

#20

As I have said many times before, the problem with mistakes made with Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, is that often no one knows the mistake has been made until the entire area has been damaged.