Lasers for Hair Removal
April 2019
TLDR Laser hair removal works well for light skin with dark hair but needs caution for darker skin.
The document discussed the psychological impact of excessive unwanted hair on children and adolescents and evaluated the suitability of laser hair removal (LHR) for different skin and hair types. It highlighted that LHR is most effective for darkly pigmented hair in light-skinned individuals but can be safely used on darker skin with careful selection of laser parameters. The long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser was noted as the safest option for darker skin, with long-pulsed diode or alexandrite lasers also being potential alternatives. The document emphasized the need for more studies on LHR in the pediatric population and suggested that LHR could alleviate the emotional burden associated with hirsutism and hypertrichosis in young patients.