Laser hair removal is a permanent option to eliminate unwanted hair, and some individuals will decide to schedule procedures to take care of unwanted facial hair. You should know that there are some side effects to be aware of before opting for a facial treatment. Discoloration of the skin is something you may see. Keep reading to learn about the types of discoloration you may see and what you can do about them.

Hyperpigmentation 

Hyperpigmentation is really a fancy name for the darkening of the skin. In other words, you may see brown spots appearing around the treatment area, and they are most prevalent directly after each laser treatment session. While the spots may appear concerning, they are pretty similar to the way that your skin reacts to the sun. So, they are like small sections of a suntan. 

The spots appear as the body tries to protect itself from the light emitted from the laser treatment wand. To keep the skin from becoming damaged, the melanocyte cells in your skin produce small pigment molecules called melanin. The melanin moves to the surface of the skin to block the light. 

Since the laser is used on the skin for a short period of time, only small amounts of melanin are produced, and this creates the uneven discoloration. You will notice your skin returning to a normal tone soon after the laser treatment. The effects are not permanent, and no serious skin damage will occur. However, you may want to speak with your laser hair removal specialist about the issue. A different type of laser can often be used, and you also may be asked to undergo shorter treatments.

Red Skin

Laser hair removal uses a laser that targets dark pigments. This is why the hair follicle is burned, but the skin is left in a healthy condition. The treatment is irritating to the skin though, and sometimes the laser light can cause be absorbed by skin pigments. If you have sensitive skin, then you may see a bit of redness and swelling across the treatment area. 

Burns can occur too, but they are extremely uncommon if a professional laser hair removal specialist completed the treatment. To make sure that burns are not an issue, let your specialist know if you feel any significant pain during the procedure. Also, work with the professional during a consultation, so the correct laser tool is chosen. Some tools work better on dark skin than others, and there are special types of instruments that can target follicles if you are African American or Latino.