Can Laser Hair Removing Cause Skin Cancer?

Some people who are thinking of having laser hair removal procedures done on certain parts of their body may think that this kind of a process may cause them to have cancer in the long run. The laser hair removal cancer scare is not that rare since a lot of people who think this way do not really understand how the procedure works and how it can remove unwanted hair from the body.

Understanding how laser hair removal works can enlighten a person as to what is going on and what to expect with the procedure.

Facts about Laser Hair Removal Cancer

In light of the laser hair removal cancer myth, here are some facts that you should know about laser hair removal and what exactly is going on:

When you have laser hair removal procedures done on your skin, your laser technician will be using what is called a laser that uses non-ionizing radiation to remove the unwanted hair on your body.

This non-ionizing radiation may be what is causing people to have this laser hair removal cancer scare associated with this procedure due to the term “radiation.” This is a relatively harmless kind of radiation that is actually present around us in many ways like in our household appliances and even in visible light.

People who have this laser hair removal cancer scare should rest assured that this non-ionizing radiation that is used to remove unwanted hair from your body is the kind of radiation that only produces heat to damage the hair follicles—not the skin or the cells of the skin as some radiation types do. Cell damage or mutation does not happen with this type of radiation since only heat is produced by the lasers that are used for this procedure.

Side Effects

While you can get rid of the laser hair removal cancer scare that may have been holding you back from getting this procedure done, you should still know that this procedure is not without risks. Some of the risks and possible side effects that laser hair removal can bring about include skin irritation, some temporary scabbing, and hyperpigmentation may result from the process.

You should also know that despite the debunking of the laser hair removal cancer scare, you should still take necessary precautions when you are having this procedure done. You may be free from the possibility of cancer from this procedure but you might find yourself suffering from a few painful side effects if you do not choose a qualified laser technician to do this procedure on you.

Summary : Laser hair removal does NOT cause cancer because it uses non-ionizing radiation. The United States Department of Labor defines non-ionizing radiation as "a series of energy waves composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields traveling at the speed of light." This type of radiation produces intense heat but does not cause cell mutation. In fact, non-ionizing radiation surrounds us every day. Sources of this type of radiation include ultraviolet light, visible light, power lines, cellular phones and many household appliances. The lasers used for hair removal produce much the same type of heat as an ordinary light bulb.