Does Laser Hair Removal Cause Cancer? (Professional Answers)

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) has planted the fear of having cancer into so many people that they avoid using or going for laser procedures, believing it can cause cancer. Also, they believe tweezing, waxing, plucking, or shaving hair from the body is safer, while laser hair removal has adverse effects that may result in skin disorders. This is invalid and apocryphal because no research has proven this notion to be true. Read on to understand some convincing facts that ascertain using laser hair removal has nothing to do with cancer.

Overview

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is so deadly and acute to the body that it has caused umpteen deaths worldwide. At least one out of six recorded deaths comes from cancer, and about 10 million deaths happened in 2020 due to cancer.[1] Scientists claim the main causes are unknown, but there are possible factors that may validate a patient’s cancer diagnosis. The factors include genetic changes, environment, and other agents like chemical carcinogens. The concern about the genetic change from damage to DNA has made many laser hair removal users ambivalent about the intense pulsed light devices.[2] Most believe that laser hair removal may have adverse effects resulting in cancer. However, the National Laser Institute proved this assumption untrue in 2018 when registered users performed above 1.1 million laser hair removal treatments in the United States.[3] Ultimately, they validated laser hair removal procedures to be safe and without cancer-related adverse effects.

What is Laser Hair Removal?

Removal of hair from the skin through waxing or plucking has been primitive and unhygienic since time passed. Most of these methods have contributed to skin conditions that make life uncomfortable for many patients to date. Therefore the use of laser light in removing hair follicles from its root is safe.[4]

The United States Food and Drug Administration confirmed that laser hair removal is more effective than other hair removal methods. This innovative device uses radiation that is harmless to the body. Its light beam only targets the cells that produce hair follicles (not the DNA in cells). As a result, it hinders hair growth from the surface of the skin without damaging the DNA in cells or causing skin cancer.[5]

However, this laser light procedure is different from the ultraviolet wavelengths (UVA and UVB) that affect the skin due to excess exposure to sunlight. The heat from sunlight enters the skin and results in skin irritation or diseases.[6] Similar to ultraviolet wavelengths is the ionizing radiation released from the X-rays and gamma rays as affirmed by Dr. Whitney Bowe, a dermatologist in New York City. These radiations are hazardous and are possibly triggering the cause of cancer in the body. On the other hand, laser hair removal is safe for cosmetic or medical treatments because it uses concentrated beams of light to remove unwanted hair.[7]

How Laser Hair Removal Works

Laser hair removal focuses on the target hair follicles with its concentrated beams of light to permanently remove the hair and hinder hair ingrowth. During these procedures, the beams of light overwhelm the pigment, get converted to heat, and damage the hair follicles from the cells that produce them. As a result of this process, the hair within this region is permanently removed. Though a patient needs multiple sessions to remove every hair follicle to avoid hair ingrowth and experience long-lasting hair removal, the result tends to be appealing and noticeable after the laser treatment. In addition, you should not wax or pluck the target area before going for laser hair removal treatments because the concentrated light of the laser won’t be effective on the hair follicles. Likewise, you should know that it’s only hair with pigment that laser light will eliminate properly. It may be less effective if you are white, grey, blond, or red airy because the light only works with dark pigment.[8]

However, you must know how to prepare yourself before going for laser hair removal. It would help to avoid plucking, waxing, or shaving the target hair with a razor six weeks before booking or using laser hair removal. This condition helps to make the hair available for laser light removal. In addition, you should avoid ultraviolet light from the sun because UV or UB can make the laser light ineffective and cause skin irritation after treatments.

Finally, use products like Ulike Brands to have an effective laser hair removal treatment, and get the counsel of a certified, experienced doctor or dermatologist before you opt for laser hair removal treatments. You need to know laser light will be effective on your skin and remove the hair as expected, so some laser devices may be painful at first experience Though laser light can never cause cancer, it can cause some skin conditions and complications due to your type of hair, color, or age.[9]

The Advantages of Using Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal has some benefits for patients who are fit for the treatments:

1. Exactness:

Laser hair removal completely targets and removes unwanted hair and hair ingrowth from the skin. The treatment gives long-lasting hair removal from your body without damaging the DNA in your cells.

2. Fast Result:

The procedure of laser light in removing hair is so fast and harmless. It only takes a fraction of a second to remove a raft of hair from the follicles and destroy them permanently.

3. Cost Effectiveness

Using laser hair removal, such as Unlike IPL brands, is economical for anyone because you save more when you remove your hair and hair ingrowth permanently. You won’t have the cause to waste money on waxing, shaving, or freezing every week again.

4. Less Painful Result

The laser hair removal procedure is painless for those already familiar with it. It is fast and effective. If you are new to this laser light, you may experience minimal side effects like redness on the target skin. Nevertheless, it disappears within 48 hours after the treatment.

5. Safe to Use

Laser hair removal is safe for children and adults, like razor cuts, waxing, and plucking. After the procedure, you won’t have scars left on your skin, and your skin will look smooth and appealing.

Read more about how to prevent laser hair removal burns.

6. Healthy Skin

The aftermath of using laser hair removal makes your skin glow differently and improves your skin surface. In converting beams of light to remove the follicles from the cells that produce them, laser promotes the healthy condition of your skin by removing or reducing the occurrence of acne, pimples, or blackheads.

7. Multiple Usefulness

You can use laser light to remove hair from any part of your body except the eyelashes. You can remove hair from the armpits, chest, face, shoulders, neck, back, and private parts.

Read more about the areas you can treat with laser hair removal.

8. Stop Ingrown Hair Completely

One of the benefits of using laser hair removal is that it stops ingrown hair completely from the skin, unlike tweezing, shaving, plucking, waxing, or any other methods of removing hair from the skin.

Safety Tips for Using Laser Hair Removal

Though the US FDA approves laser hair removal and doesn’t cause cancer, there are some safety tips you must be aware of not to encounter complications or have skin conditions:

Eye Avoidance

When going through laser hair removal procedures, you should ensure you have your eye protection on your face. This is important because of the beams of light released to consume the follicles in the skin. The light can affect the retina of your eyes if they are exposed directly to this laser light.

Avoid Sunlight before and After

You must adhere to your healthcare provider or dermatologist’s advice to stay out of sunlight before and after hair removal procedures. You may experience severe burns that may trigger skin infection or irritation. Your doctor will tell you when to start exposing yourself to the sun.

Final Takeaway

Laser hair removal procedures have no connection with the cause of cancer. The Food and Drug Administration and the National Laser Institute confirm this assertion. The light emitted from this device only targets the hair follicles in the skin without damaging the DNA in the body’s cells. Laser hair removal is safe and effective for every patient certified by their health provider or dermatologist.[10]

In addition, ensure you consult a professional health care provider or dermatologist who uses a certified laser hair removal on you. There are different laser hair removal out there that are not good for some skins. Ulike Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset is the best I will recommend for your hair removal treatments. It is not only a quality laser hair removal but also handy and much more effective. This device is pain-free and affordable. In addition, it is quick at removing hairs and delivers concentrated beams every 0.7 seconds to remove every target quickly within 10 minutes. Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handse has the soft mode feature to reach every sensitive area of your body except your eyes, and you start noticing the results in three weeks.