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Are Lasers Safe?
2007-01-04
Q. It seems like lasers are being used for so many things these days, from varicose vein treatment to hair removal. Are lasers completely safe?
A. Lasers use light energy to heat and damage target tissues, like veins or hair roots. They are very safe if used properly. This depends on the amount of energy used and the state of the target tissue. It is very important that the colour of the target be different from the surrounding skin, because lasers deliver heat to certain colours. If you are doing laser hair removal on a person with a dark tan, the skin will absorb too much heat and the skin can be burned. This is why winter is a good time to do laser skin procedures, when a person’s tan is lightest. The contrast between the target
Q. Can lasers cause skin cancer like sunburns do?
A. No, lasers don’t have UV (ultraviolet) radiation, so they don’t cause skin cancer. In fact, lasers can be used to treat precancerous lesions
Q. I’ve heard lasers are painless. Is this true?
A. Actually, that is a common fallacy. Lasers use energy to produce heat, which can definitely be felt. It feels like an elastic band being snapped against the skin, but can be even more intense. Topical creams to numb the skin can be used prior to laser procedures to reduce the discomfort.
Q. What are some other things lasers are used for?
A. Basically, almost any red or brown blemish on the body can be removed or improved with lasers. In addition to treating varicose veins and precancerous spots, lasers can treat age related skin growths, solar lentigos (benign sun damage), skin tags, acne, and rosacea, just to name a few. They can be used to remove unwanted tattoos, unwanted hair and can also resurface deeply wrinkled skin. All of these applications use different types of lasers, so if you are looking for a specific treatment, you should check to see if your practitioner has the appropriate laser for the job.
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