From laser hair removal to laser skin peels, the beauty industry is booming. It's not just physician's offices that can obtain these laser machines. Beauty technicians and even a stay-at-home mother can get one to use just about anywhere. There are beauty lasers for almost anything dealing with skin care and cosmetic practices. Laser beauty treatments seem to have gathered more attention than waxing ever did, but at what cost?
Burns
Laser skin resurfacing, removal of skin tags and moles and even freckle fading have become treatments that are offered outside of a doctor's office. However, without a physician's supervision, the risk for severe skin burns increases. According to the California Chronicle, Dr. James Walter from the Neutral Bay Laser and Dermatology Clinic says that many reports have poured onto his desk of severe burns caused by laser treatments performed by skin therapists, and he has documented 200 such cases. Many of these incidents are said to be unreported. Those that were reported explained the inability to withstand fabric from clothing anywhere near the site of the burn. In some cases, according to Dr. Walter, some patients were advised not to seek medical attention by the therapist performing the treatment. It is very important that burns be reported and cared for to minimize scarring and deep-tissue problems.
Misuse and Misdiagnosis
Laser treatments have been used to remove unsightly moles. Unfortunately, a few cases have come to light where misdiagnosis of a common mole that was in fact melanoma have had fatal consequences. Though this scenario is rare, it still can happen. It is important to make sure you have the guidance of a medical doctor, plastic surgeon or dermatologist before having any moles or freckles removed.
One-Stop Shop
According to an articled published on Skin Sight, dermatologist Dr. Ramsey Markus states that there are several warning signs the consumers should be aware of before trusting anyone with their skin. For instance, if you see that your laser procedure to remove hair will be done with the same type of laser as someone who has a skin resurfacing, chances are you could be setting yourself up for complications. An IPL, or intense pulsed light, treatment for darker skin could result in blistering, scarring and discoloration. Dr. Markus advises that you should not seek services from anyone who does not perform a full evaluation and offer you several options. Different procedures require certain equipment to minimize the risk for serious side effects.
Another tip given by Dr. Markus is to look for credentials. Most professionals like to show their certifications on the wall of their office. If you have an uneasy feeling about the certifications or the professional in general, just walk out and don't risk it. Technicians are only given 30 minutes of training on IPLs, as compared to years of training for dermatologists, physicians and plastic surgeons, so better to be safe than sorry, especially with your skin.
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