By Jenny Hope
Millions of women could be at risk of scarring and burns because they are unaware of the risks of laser hair removal treatment, warn researchers.
Having laser treatment when the skin is tanned, either naturally or artificially, can cause permanent damage, according to a Which? investigation.
Women with heart problems, diabetes or taking certain medications including the contraceptive pill should also be wary about getting laser treatment.
An estimated 700,000 British women have already had facial or body hair removed using laser light and as many as six million are considering the permanent solution to excess hair.
Laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) hair removal involves firing a short burst of light at the skin. This is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, which heats up and damages the hair follicle and should prevent hair from re-growing.
However, well-established problems caused by laser and IPL treatment include burns, skin damage, blistering leading to mild scarring and changes in skin pigmentation.
But the majority of 541 women surveyed by Which? were ignorant of the risks and many said they had not been properly informed by salon practitioners.
The survey found 3 per cent of women questioned - equating to around 700,000 in the population - had had laser treatment, and 24 per cent - or six million - were considering it.
Three out of four of these women were unaware that having a natural tan could affect their treatment and just over two-thirds did not realise that even a fake tan would make a difference to the effects of laser on their skin.
More than half did not know that a heart condition could cause complications, and two out of three were unaware that diabetes could influence treatment.
A GP's advice should be sought by women on acne medication, oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, vitamins and herbal remedies such as St John's Wort.
Jenny Driscoll, Which? health campaigner, said: 'No more waxing, shaving and bleaching may seem like the perfect solution for many women, but in the wrong hands, or on the wrong skin, laser hair removal can be dangerous.
'Women have contacted us who have been badly burned and scarred.
'As with all cosmetic treatments, we advise everyone to do their homework first, check out the person who will be giving the treatment and be aware of what to expect and ask at their consultation.'
Women who are pregnant or have had treatment for skin cancer should not have treatment, Mrs Driscoll said.
Even when manufacturers issue warnings about the proper use of machines, the information is not always passed on to the consumer, she added.
Campaigners from 30 medical bodies, cosmetic clinics, the industry and patient groups joined forces with Which? last July to oppose Government plans to stop regulating cosmetic laser treatments.
As a result the Government postponed deregulation, which it admitted could have led to 3,400 more patients being harmed each year.
Mrs Driscoll said practitioners must be registered with the Healthcare Commission but there is no 'foolproof' system to protect consumers.
'That's why it is so important that regulation stays in place and women look after themselves by being aware of potential risks before they go for treatment,' she added.
Source
Having aggressive treatments such as laser hair removal really do involve some risks. People should be careful before getting into it.
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15 years ago
I first had symptoms when i was 17 and was told that i had PCOS (thin people type PCOS) and was officially diagnosed at 22 ans now i am 35. I have always had regular periods and unless on birth control pills were they irregular at times and I had a hard time getting pregnant because of the absent periods. I was always told by doctors that I would have a hard time conceiving so I would only go on the pill periodically which i did for more than 4 years, not for protection against getting pregnant, but just to get a period (since I was told it's not healthy to have less than 4 or so periods a year). Last time I went on a 3 month birth control pill and then stopped again because the medicine was not curing my pcos nor making me get pregnant. I went in search for a cure and ended up with so many drugs, medicine and even soaps that didn't work. I actually thought at a point that i was cursed that there is no cure for it, i was prepared to live like that till i read a testimony of a patient who suffered from pcos whose case was even worse than mine and how she was cured completely, I was amazed and at thesame time anxious and curious so i had to contact the doctor with the contact details that she left on the note. The doctor gave me so much hope and confidence with her kind words of encouragement to believe in myself and i was lifted because no one has ever given me hope like that before. I ordered the medicine, took it for 8 weeks and to my complete surprise, all the facial hairs, weight gain and all disappeared within 4 weeks and I ended up getting pregnant within a few weeks of completing the treatment! I was in shock. I think the main reasons it happened was that I never gave up and was ready to try alternative treatment so my body was back to normal. Before now i never enjoyed sex because it was very painful but now i do and my husband is the best thing that ever happened to me.. I hope this inspires some of you because I never in a million years would have thought that I would get pregnant and was getting frustrated and now our baby is due next month! You too can reach her on [aletedwin@gmail.com] for more information, advise and also how to place an order for yours.
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