What you need to know about laser treatmentsTypes of laser treatment

There are two techniques; laser and intense pulsed light (IPL). Both work by delivering a burst of light onto the skin.

The light is matched to a target colour on the skin, such as the blue ink in a tattoo, or colour pigment in hair follicles. It heats up the target area with the aim of not heating up surrounding tissues.

Laser

Both laser and IPL deliver a burst of light onto the skin

For tattoo removal the beam of laser energy breaks up the targeted pigment into smaller fragments that the body can flush away.

For hair reduction the laser or IPL light energy is absorbed by hair follicles producing sufficient heat to damage the hair growth stem cells and prevent them from producing new hair growth.

IPL

IPLs deliver broadband light, which means they can treat different targets, such as thread veins and blemishes, at different depths in the skin. IPLs can be used to treat large areas quickly.

These techniques are used for three types of treatment: skin, anti-ageing and hair removal.

Skin treatments

Skin (pigmented) blemishes - For age spots, acne scars, rosacea and other brown skin blemishes, lasers and IPLs break down the colouring in the treated area over a series of visits.

Vein reduction - In the treatment of red facial thread veins and leg thread veins, port wine stain birthmarks and rosacea, laser light is absorbed by the blood in the vein, damaging or destroying the vein’ so that it gradually dissolves and is removed by the body’s immune system over the course of several weeks.

Tattoos - Different lasers may be needed to tackle different tattoo pigments. IPL treatments should not be recommended for tattoo removal. This is because IPL light energy is not produced in short enough pulses and cannot be targeted to a specific colour. Therefore heat will be absorbed into the skin, leading to an increased risk of skin damage and scarring.

Anti-ageing treatments

Anti-ageing treatments such as ‘skin resurfacing’ or ‘photorejuvenation’ also use lasers. There are two types:

Resurfacing treatments

These treatments use lasers to remove a layer of skin from the face. As the skin heals a new, softer and tighter layer grows back, fewer blemishes, wrinkles or scars should be visible. This process may need to be repeated several times.

There are several laser skin resurfacing treatments – for example, Fractitional. It’s different because it doesn't target the whole of the skin area. Instead, it fires hundreds of microscopic beams, producing tiny dot-like ‘treatment (microthermal) zones’.

This means the skin should heal much more quickly than if a whole layer is removed. Again, several treatments are required to achieve the desired effect.

Photorejuvenation

This technique is used to reduce fine thread veins, brown or red pigmentation and wrinkles. In the treatment of wrinkles, the laser may stimulate the production of collagen in the skin, which ‘plumps out’ fine lines and wrinkles.

Laser hair removal

One of the most popular cosmetic laser treatments is hair removal.

Laser and IPL hair removal works in a similar way to skin treatments: a short burst of light, matched to the patient’s skin type and hair colour, is fired at the skin’s surface. This is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, which heats up and damages the hair follicle and prevents hair from re-growing.

Hair reduction treatments using laser and IPLs may be suitable for most types of skin providing the hair is darker than the surrounding skin. White, ginger and grey hair is difficult to treat successfully.

How long will it take?

Length of treatment varies. If the hair is actively growing, the heat absorbed in the hair shaft will spread out to destroy the follicle as well. These hairs will usually not grow again, although this isn't guaranteed.

Other follicles which aren't actively growing will continue to produce new hair. These must be treated during another session when they're in their growth stage, so several sessions over a period of time are necessary.

It can take years and you'll need to have a break of at least a month between each laser treatment.

Women with conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can cause excess hair growth, may require more treatments.

Beware laser treatment myths

Clinics claiming to offer ‘permanent hair removal’ are breaking the law as this can not be guaranteed. However they are allowed to advertise ‘permanent hair reduction’.

Lasers and IPLs can't remove white or very blond hair, since they work by targeting the pigment. Be careful of clinics advertising treatments for all hair colours. Always remember that marketing material can be misleading.

Looking for advice on laser eye surgery? Read the Which? guide to laser eye surgery.