Incidence of side effects after laser hair removal.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of lasers for hair removal there are few data published on the incidence of side effects from this treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to generate data on a large number of patients receiving laser hair removal to obtain an accurate assessment of the incidence and type of side effects resulting from treatment.

METHODS: A multicenter prospective study of patients presenting for laser hair removal was conducted to determine incidence of side effects in relation to skin type and laser or lasers used.

RESULTS: Laser hair removal is associated with a low incidence of side effects that are self-limiting in the majority of cases. The highest incidence of side effects was seen in patients with darker skin treated with the long-pulsed ruby laser.

CONCLUSIONS: Laser hair removal is inherently safe. For darker Fitzpatrick skin types the long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser is preferred to the ruby laser.