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Laser Hair Removal And Herpes

Who Is A Good Candidate For Laser Hair Removal

Pros and cons of laser hair removal – Dr. Priya J Talageri

Anyone with any skin color and unwanted body hair can undergo this procedure. But laser hair removal may not be a good treatment option for people with a blonde, white, or red hair color because the laser targets dark hair the best. We will explain more on this later.

Other good candidates for laser hair removal include:

  • Women who have hirsutism, which is a condition that characterizes coarse hair growth in a male-like pattern on the face, back, and chest.
  • People with hypertrichosis which is a condition where men or women have excessive hair growth all over the body.
  • Women who experience unwanted hair on certain parts of the body due to hormonal imbalances, poly-cystic ovarian syndrome , hormonal birth control, etc.
  • People who feel very insecure about their dark body hair.
  • People who dont want to shave or wax their body hair on a regular basis.

You are not a good candidate for this procedure if you:

  • Have extremely sensitive skin or skin disorders
  • Frequently have cold sores
  • Have a medical history of skin cancer
  • Have severe acne thats being treated by an acne medication
  • Have keloid scars

Fortunately We Have Answers For You

Laser hair removal is safe for those with herpes.

Its true that herpes can be spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, but there are ways to reduce the risk of contracting this viral infection from laser hair removal procedures. If youre concerned about getting or spreading a communicable disease during your next laser hair removal session, weve got answers for you.

What If I Have A Problem When Should I Call The Office

The Kryger Institute welcomes calls from patients. If you have any concerns at any time, please feel free to . If it is an emergency, the answering service is available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. There is always a plastic surgeon on call. Your surgeon will discuss all the risks and potential complications with you before surgery. You will receive detailed instructions about situations that warrant a call to the office.

Read Also: Home Remedies For Herpes Blisters On Lips

How Is Laser Beneficial In Dentistry

There are a lot of benefits to the laser treatments we offer at our dental clinic and practice:

  • Versatile dental tools
  • Allows you to heal faster
  • Reduces infection risks
  • Laser treatments are cutting edge and precise
  • Laser treatment can remove bacteria and symptoms more quickly and effectively then traditional treatments
  • It can control bleeding during surgery
  • Laser causes less loss of blood as compared to other dental therapies
  • Post treatment most of the time pain less discomfort

How Do Dermatologists Treat Herpes Simplex

Herpes And Laser Hair Removal

There is no cure for herpes simplex. The good news is that sores often clear without treatment. Many people choose to treat herpes simplex because treatment can relieve symptoms and shorten an outbreak.

Most people are treated with an antiviral medicine. An antiviral cream or ointment can relieve the burning, itching, or tingling. An antiviral medicine that is oral or intravenous can shorten an outbreak of herpes.

Prescription antiviral medicines approved for the treatment of both types of herpes simplex include:

Taken daily, these medicines can lessen the severity and frequency of outbreaks. They also can help prevent infected people from spreading the virus.

Read Also: Can Herpes Be Treated Naturally

Can Laser Hair Removal Activate Herpes

If the laser hair removal goes smoothly, it should never activate herpes. This is because herpes is a sexually transmitted infection hence, laser hair removal on its own can never activate it.

Unfortunately, this is not usually the case as some mistakes during the procedure may damage the surface of the skin.

When this happens, you will become more susceptible to having any infections, including herpes.

Besides, if you have a recent history of herpes, such skin damage can reactivate herpes. As a consequence, you may start seeing the symptoms of herpes again.

So, if you think you are at risk of reactivating herpes after laser hair removal, I think you should avoid the procedure for some periods. It wont hurt you to try using regular shaving methods like an electric shaver.

Long lasting hair removal

Laser Hair Removal And Herpes

ByMichelle Atkins | Submitted On May 14, 2010

Laser hair removal is becoming an increasingly popular method for long term hair removal for both women and men. Facial and pubic hair removal are just two of the common treatments that customers opt for but these two areas can cause problems for herpes sufferers that want to have laser treatment. Not having to deal with shaving or waxing again is certainly attractive when you consider how much time we spend removing unwanted body hair. Laser hair removal and herpes generally do not go very well together but there are ways to make your laser experience much more pleasant if you are a herpes sufferer. This article discusses the potential side effects of laser hair treatment for herpes sufferers and what you can do to avoid them.

Laser treatment can cause a number of side effects or complications but the risk of these is greatly reduced based on the experience of your practitioner. Side effects can include pain, swelling, infection, hyperpigmentation and scarring but the most frustrating one for herpes sufferers is the increased chance of an outbreak.

How to Prevent a Herpes Outbreak

When dealing with laser hair removal and herpes, taking these simple precautions can prevent you from getting another outbreak

Recommended Reading: Where To Get Herpes Medication

Lose The Haireven There

Theres no better feeling than stepping out of the shower after shaving and experiencing complete smoothness everywhere on your body. Imagine feeling that way every dayâonly without that whole annoying shaving part. With Brazilian Laser Hair Removal, say goodbye to your old shaving routine and hello to long-lasting, smooth skin.

Full Brazilian Laser Hair Removal removes all or almost all pubic hair. Itâs a more permanent hair removal treatment than waxing or shaving. The laser targets follicles, emits light energy, and stops the growth of hair. And it can be done in less than an hour. With Brazilian Laser Hair Removal, you can experience smooth, clean skin with minimal effort.

You Have A Dark Complexion

How Ingrown Hairs Are Removed | Art Insider

Although lasers arent off-limits to people with darker skin like they were in past, there are some risks and considerations its worth thinking about if you do have a darker complexion. Lasers work by having the skin cells absorb energy from the light beam. That can destroy the cell, which is often the point.

People with more pigment in their skin are more likely to absorb more energy from the lasers, which can complicate matters. Instead of that excess energy simply being absorbed by the other skin cells, it can cause side effects such as skin darkening and blisters.

In the case of laser hair removal, some types of lasers are often better suited for people with dark skin than others. For example, longer pulsed light treatments often provide better results while intense pulsed light treatments can occasionally lead to burns and scarring in people with darker complexions.

Also Check: How Long Does It Take Herpes Sores To Heal

Things You Should Absolutely Avoid Before Getting Laser Hair Removal

Before you permanently do anything to your body, make sure you know what youâre getting into. That includes laser hair removal. It may seem like a no-brainer: zap unwanted hair with a wand, and poof! Itâs gone. But itâs not that simple.

First, choose a place to get laser where the pros will be honest with you. I was hesitant about trying it myself, but after reading reviews about different spots, I decided to laser my armpits at Romeo and Juliette in NYC. I liked that technicians there would not just do the treatment on any part of my body. For example, they did not want to do it on my upper arms, where the hair growth is hormonal. This made me feel confident that the areas they did take on were actually treatable. While I am still treating my pits, the hair has gone from coarse and dark to soft and blonde.

Along the way I learned more tips from the spaâs owner Christian Karavolas. For instance, you canât do laser when you have a spray tan! I had no idea. Keep reading to discover why that is a problem plus eight other things to never do when getting laser hair removal.

Tip: Avoid self-tanner

Tip: Skip laser if you have a cold sore or breakout

Tip: Also pass on laser if you have an acne breakout

Tip: Avoid laser around the time of the month

How Does Laser Treatment Of Herpes Simplex Virus Work

We use a precision laser to kill the virus located within the sore, avoiding unnecessary aggravation of healthy tissue and thus allowing your body to heal faster. It is even possible for us to stop the cold sore before it develops fully. If you get a tingly sensation in the lips and the sense that a cold sore is coming on, call us for an appointment. We can treat the area before the outbreak happens.

Read Also: How Do You Get Rid Of Herpes On Your Lips

You Might Be Wondering If Laser Hair Removal Could Help Reduce Your Risk Of Hsv Outbreaks And If Its Even Safe In The First Place

Laser hair removal is a safe procedure for people with herpes. When you receive treatment, the laser beam passes through your skin and heats up your hair follicles to destroy them, causing you to lose some of your bodys hairs. In addition, when you undergo laser hair removal your skin may be more sensitive than usual because it has been exposed to the bright light energy from the lasers. If a lesion emerges on your skin while undergoing hair removal treatment or shortly afterward, theres a chance that it could flare up into an outbreak of genital herpes .

As with any other medical procedure you have done recently especially one involving exposure to powerful light sources its important that you speak with your doctor about whether or not he thinks laser hair removal would be safe for you as someone who has HSV-1 or HSV-2 in order to determine whether it may exacerbate an active outbreak or cause one in the future.

Can I Do Laser Hair Removal At Home

2 PCS/Lot GaALAs 635 670nm Laser Facial Acne Herpes Treatment Soft ...

The Food and Drug Administration approves some laser hair removal devices for home use. Without supervision by an experienced healthcare provider, the risk of misuse or injury increases. Use extreme caution and protective eyewear if you do at-home laser hair removal.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Laser hair removal is a safe, effective way to remove unwanted body hair. Heat from a laser removes hair and destroys hair follicles. Its not permanent, but the results last longer than plucking, tweezing or waxing. Most people need multiple treatments. Only an experienced healthcare provider should perform this procedure. Potential side effects include burning, scarring and permanent skin discoloration.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/01/2021.

References

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The Fundamental Difference Between Electrolysis And Lasers

What makes E different from lasers is that E kills the papilla rendering hair growth impossible, while all lasers used for hair removal use light as a modality for disintegrating the hair itself, possibly damaging the papilla Surrounding area enough to cause less regrowth, softer regrowth.

Who is an Ideal Candidate for Electrolysis?If you have read this far, then by now, the answer to this question is probably burned in your hair. But in case you missed it, here it is again.

Anyone who is seeking a permanent solution to unwanted hair is a candidate for electrolysis.

However, electrolysis is especially ideal for you if you fall into one of these categories:

If you have excessive or fluctuating hair growth due to hormonal changes caused by a health condition, medications or hormonal treatments.

And If you are a perfectionist with an aesthetic vision for your personal landscaping designIf you want to groom so precisely as to be able to choose which hair follicle you wish to treat, then you will be in heaven. With this method, we give you permission to be obsessive because a small needle is used to slip down into the follow and directly destroy the root cause of hair growth. No guessing is needed.

If you are tired of tweezing one specific, straggler hair on your chin, face, or elsewhereWe all seem to have one of these.

Below, we have gathered the top 3 reasons why choosing E is the smartest method of hair removal all of your body hair and especially for your face and genitals.

Can You Get Herpes From Laser Hair Removal

Youve probably heard that you can get herpes from laser hair removal. But is this true?

The short answer: Its possible, but its also extremely unlikely.

First of all, laser hair removal doesnt use chemicals or needlesits completely non-invasive and safe for most people. That said, there are some people who should not undergo laser hair removal because they have certain skin conditions or are at high risk of developing skin cancer .

But for most people, the risk of herpes transmission from laser hair removal is low. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that there are no reports of transmission of any disease by lasers used in cosmetic procedures. The FDA goes on to say that there is no evidence to date that suggests its possible to contract herpes from laser hair removal equipment.

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Does Laser Hair Removal Affect Herpes

Yes, laser hair removal affects herpes. This applies to both oral and genital herpes. As a result of this, I will advise you to avoid laser hair removal if you have active herpes.

You need to wait until all symptoms of herpes have disappeared before getting laser hair removal.

You should also avoid manual razor shaving and other methods that can trigger the condition.

If you have to remove unwanted hair, you can try the Homiley lady shaver. It is safer than the other methods and does not trigger herpes.

Homiley electric lady shaver

But if you are not dealing with active herpes but have a recent history of the condition, you can use laser hair removal.

Typically, your doctor will give you some antiviral medications to use before and after the treatments. So, before getting laser hair removal, let your laser provider know about your condition.

Who Is Laser Hair Removal Most Effective For

Dr. Rohit Batra, Dermatologist, Dermaworld Skin & Hair Clinics Live Session on Herpes zoster

The good news is that with technological advances in the field of dermatology, laser hair removal is effective for most people. Nevertheless, there are certain conditions that make the procedure less effective, or possibly not advisable. Since the laser technology targets the melanin in hair follicles, a high contrast between skin color and hair color works most efficiently. A person with dark hair and pale, light skin is the best candidate for laser hair removal.

Some common conditions that could cause complications with laser hair removal include: a tendency to scar or develop keloids , outbreaks of cold sores or genital herpes, or certain medications including a prescription drug called isotretinoin which treats acne. Your dermatologist will ask you questions about your skin and assess the area and type of hair to be removed. Laser hair removal works better on hair in certain stages of growth. Depending on the coarseness of your hair, it can be more or less effective. Laser hair removal can remove hair from most parts of the body, but it works best on areas like the upper lip and chin, underarm, legs, and bikini area.

If your dermatologist thinks laser hair removal is right for you, they will outline a treatment schedule. The number of sessions you will need and the intensity of treatment all depends on your skin and hair.

Recommended Reading: What Are Signs That You Have Herpes

Laser Hair Removal Patient Instructions Patientpopcom

  • sa1s3.patientpop.com
  • Highest rating: 4
  • Lowest rating: 2
  • Descriptions: If you have had a history of peri-oral or genital herpes simplex virus, we may recommend prophylactic antiviral therapy. Follow the directions for your
  • More : If you have had a history of peri-oral or genital herpes simplex virus, we may recommend prophylactic antiviral therapy. Follow the directions for your
  • https://sa1s3.patientpop.com/assets/docs/25446.pdf

Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal

Because men tend to have thicker, coarser hair, laser hair removal can be a saving grace because of its ability to nix hair growth without causing the razor burn, ingrown hairs, or chronic irritation associated with more common methods of hair removal such as shaving, waxing and sugaring. Itâs also pretty much permanent, which cuts down on maintenance and feels overall more naturala definite plus for certain areas. âAnyone whos tried to shave a hard-to-reach area like the back or a sensitive area like the ears, genitals, or backside can definitely understand the appeal of not needing to battle tricky areas for the rest of their lives,â Dhingra says.

The most common mens areas for laser hair removal include:

When it comes to laser hair removal for men, different lasers have different benefits. Orena explains that Intense Pulsed Light or IPL, for example, works better on lighter to medium skin tones, while a diode laser tends to work on a more diverse range of skin types and an Alexandrite laser is best suited for light to olive complexions as well as larger areas of hair removal. At his practice, Dhingra uses both Alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers, praising the latter for being generally accepted as the safest for dark skin tones. And Hartman uses the Syneron-Candela GentleMax Pro, which provides both Alexandrite and Nd:YAG wavelengths to safely remove unwanted hair from most skin types, from very light to deeply pigmented.

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