Does Laser Hair Removal cause cancer?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, every year during this month people over the world show their support by joining the annual campaign to raise awareness of this hard disease and promote the research into its causes, treatment, and cure. Individuals, businesses, and communities come together to show their support for the many people affected by breast cancer.
Since 1985, for nearly four decades now, the world has recognized this month as awareness month to promote education about breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and the importance of early detection and access to timely, high-quality care.
This campaign is very important, no matter who you are or where you live, breast cancer may touch your life or someone in your family. So, it’s necessary to understand the warning signs of breast cancer, the risk, causes and what’s normal for you so you can take action if there are any changes in your breasts or underarm areas. Remember:
- Don’t forget to touch, look, check: More than a third of women don’t check their breasts. Precaution and early detection can save your life.
- Learn about secondary breast cancer: Too many people with secondary breast cancer experience delays in diagnosis.
- Raise awareness of breast cancer in men: It’s rare, but men can get breast cancer too.
On the other hand, it is necessary to promote research on the true causes of breast cancer -or any type-, there are so many myths related to this that can negatively affect people and their health, while learning more about what can really cause cancer and what it can’t, you and your family can feel better and safer. Therefore, we want to break some myths about the linking between laser hair removal and cancer.
Does Laser Hair Removal cause cancer?
Laser hair treatment procedures use technology that gives some patients a concern about a cancer risk. This is due to the fact that laser hair treatment is performed with radiation. But, laser hair removal can’t cause cancer, it is only a myth. In fact, according to the Skin Care Foundation, the procedure is sometimes used to treat certain forms of precancerous lesions.
Over the past twenty years, laser technology has grown leaps and bounds. When it was first introduced, many people wondered whether it could be effective and safe. The first thing that you need to know is that laser hair removal doesn’t have any negative effects on your skin’s health. To be more specific, the type of radiation that laser hair removal uses is NOT the same as the one that is used in an MRI or CT scan, the name of that one is “ionized” radiation which can cause cell damage and lead to a cancer risk.
Tired of feeling pain by using wax or cut by shavers?
Cosmetic is a simple, nonsurgical treatment that takes only minutes and requires no recovery time.
However, Laser treatments don’t use ionized radiation, meaning that your cells are not touched or damaged, and there’s no any cancer risk as a result of treatment.
At Renew Esthetics we make sure that the laser technology used in laser hair removal treatments has been tested and approved by the FDA. We make sure that you are safe, the last thing we want to do is anything to harm your skin. We are committed to guarantee quality and safety in all our treatments so our patients receive the best possible experience.
Long-term side effects of laser hair removal
In fact, the same laser technology we use to perform hair treatments is the same as we use to aid in skin rejuvenation and dark spot removal treatments.
There are many laser treatments available today that help remove unwanted hair, reverse sun damage, aging and improve the appearance of flaky looking skin. These lasers can be ablative, meaning they vaporize the top layer of the skin, such as the CO2 or erbium laser, or nonablative, for example, a resurfacing laser that eliminates wrinkles without any peeling of the skin. The use of either ablative or many of the nonablative lasers increases collagen formation, which translates into an improvement in fine lines and wrinkles.
None of these lasers increase the chances of developing skin cancer, the lasers approved by the FDA used in hair removal or other skin procedures have such a minimal amount of radiation and it only touches the surface of the skin. So, there’s no risk for cancer. In fact, some are useful in treating precancerous lesions, thus reducing the risk of developing skin cancer.
How Does it Work?
The laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the hair follicles. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.
Other laser treatments, like skin rejuvenation, skin resurfacing, and tattoo removal all use this same technology. That means no matter what treatment you pick, you don’t need to worry about negative effects on your skin’s health.
Are there any risks after laser hair removal?
As with any medical procedure, there are a few minor risks to be aware of. The most common is redness in the area of treatment. However, in rare cases, you can experience scarring or discoloration in treated areas. Although these risks aren’t serious, you need to be aware of all possible risks, and the Laser Specialist must explain everything to you before agreeing to perform the treatment.
While in any medical procedure, there aren’t serious risks associated with laser hair removal treatment. For a cosmetic procedure, it’s remarkably safe, painless, and effective.
BOOK AN INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH OUR SKINCARE EXPERTS
Our professional laser experience, added to the innovation in technology, we offer safe and effective laser hair removal treatments with affordable prices and financing options available for our patients.
IDALIS BAILEY
Medical Facial Expert
We count on Professional Skin Care Specialists who have more than 16 years experience offering satisfactional laser hair removal treatments.
