Laser Hair Removal Is For Everyone: Medium to Dark Skin Edition

Laser Hair Removal for Darker Skin: Is it Safe?

When it comes to beauty products, not all work the same for everyone. From foundations and hair colors to moisturizers and lipsticks, we know that looking and feeling our very best means finding what works best for the specific needs of our skin. What you might not know is that this also applies to certain med spa services, too — namely, laser hair removal.

That’s because hair removal laser technology hasn’t always produced results for everyone, specifically for men and women with medium to dark skin tones. The technology originally didn’t work well or even caused unwanted side effects for these folks. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. New technologies, as well as an overdue awareness around inclusivity, has resulted in safe and effective laser hair removal for a wide range of skin types.

Why Do Some Laser Hair Removal Devices Spell Trouble for Darker Skin Tones?

You may already know how they work: lasers beams emit light at the follicle, which causes permanent damage so that hair no longer grows there. But that zap comes from the laser targeting the pigment in the hair. When it detects a contrast between the darkness of hair and lightness of skin, it knows where to make its target. Naturally, that means that folks with lighter skin and darker hair have traditionally seen the best results from laser hair removal.

So where does that leave those with medium to dark skin tones? Because laser devices weren’t able to differentiate between the pigment in the skin and the hair, they did a poor job at hair removal — and in some cases even caused dark and light spots, blisters, or scarring in the skin around the follicle. Thankfully, technology has advanced enough to create smarter laser devices that are effective and safe enough for all shades of skin.

Which Laser Hair Removal Devices Are Safe for Medium to Dark Skin Types?

Get ready to love your skin! Here at Viva, inclusivity is a must. That’s why the laser hair removal technology we offer is designed to work its magic to give you smooth skin no matter its shade. Our Triton laser device by InMode is the first high-power laser that offers simultaneous multi-wavelength hair removal firing, which allows synchronized emissions of the three most popular hair removal wavelengths — Alexandrite 755nm, Diode 810nm, and Nd:YAG 1064nm.

In short, the Triton is the best laser hair removal machine because it says hasta la vista to unwanted hair for medium and dark complexions with a high level of power — and without compromising your results.

What Is Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type?

Not sure exactly which Fitzpatrick skin type you are? Find out yours here.

What If Your Skin Type Is Above a 4 on the Fitzpatrick Scale?

The Fitzpatrick scale is the standard that dermatologists use to measure skin types, with 1 being the lightest and most sensitive to the sun, and 6 being the darkest and least sensitive to the sun. If you’re above a 4 on this scale, the laser energy is delivered more slowly per pulse. Because there’s little room between an effective level and a burn for darker-skinned types, we recommend that you do a patch test before continuing with the full procedure.

A certified Viva laser specialist will happily laser a small area of skin at different energy levels to determine the right level for effective removal without burning your skin. This will also minimize the chance that you could develop the most common laser-related side effects for dark skin — hyperpigmentation, or dark spots, and hypopigmentation, in which the skin pigment lightens.

Here at Viva Day Spa + Med Spa, we want to help you look and feel your very best. Our laser hair removal treatments are quick, painless, and effective, and they give you the smooth skin you’ve been dreaming about. Come visit us at  Viva Day Spa Lamar,  Viva Domain Northside, or Viva Round Rock and find out how you can get 50% off the price of a series of six laser hair removal treatments. Or book your laser hair removal treatment online today!