![]() Luckily, technology has changed and we’re in a very different place today. Earlier devices really were not safe for skin with much melanin in it (melanin is what gives our skin its color – the more melanin in skin, the darker it is) and the side effects of a session with those older technologies could include burns, blisters, discoloration, and scarring – so the rumors of unsafe skin treatments really did have a strong basis in reality. Laser hair removal has been around since the 1980s, and the technology has changed dramatically in that time. It’s been around since 2001 (and we were one of the first to purchase this system, as we were one of the only providers of laser hair removal in New Jersey at that time). One “newer” technology that makes safe for Indians and Southeast Asians is the GentleYAG Nd:Yag laser. Use the link above to determine your Fitzpatrick number if you’re unsure. This is not actually a measure of the color of your skin, but rather how it reacts to sunlight, which gives us important clues about how it will react to laser light. The very lightest may be a Fitzpatrick skin type 4 (excluding those with very mixed ancestry) and the very darkest may be pushing a 6, however, most are likely a 5. ![]() Indian skin tones range from lighter skin to moderately dark. WHAT LASER SYSTEMS DO REFLECTIONS HAVE THAT ARE SAFE FOR INDIAN HAIR REMOVAL?ĭeciding on the right laser system will depend on the Fitzpatrick level of skin tone. Luckily, Nd:Yag lasers work differently, and are able to be just as effective on the deepest skin tones as some other devices are for the palest skin. This is where the myth that skin of color can’t have laser hair removal came from. And in other practices, nurses perform this procedure without the real scientific understanding of how lasers target the hair follicle without harming the surrounding skin – and that can be equally disastrous. Unfortunately, many practices still use these older technologies, because they are less expensive for the practice to invest in, and the manufacturers make claims that they work on skin types – which they do, just not effectively. This is a really important note, because the first lasers that hit the market could treat skin of color, but they had to be turned down to very low settings in order to be safe – and when they weren’t, we started seeing bad complications, like burns, from laser hair removal. ![]() Now with the expansion of technology into Nd:Yag 1064 lasers, patients of all skin colors are able to get hair removal not only safely, but as effectively. Unfortunately, because IPL devices are FDA-Approved for some at-home uses, these devices are often what you’ll find in home laser kits, like Kenzzi ( we made video and blog on at-home laser hair removal – there is 1 device we give a green light to – check that out here). If you’re familiar with IPL treatments, you may know that they are only safe for Fitzpatrick skin types 1-4. For patients any deeper in complexion than a Fitzpatrick 4, including those with Asian, Indian, or African heritage, this device is not a safe treatment option. Some practices continue to use IPL as a hair removal method even though better options have come along. Laser hair was originally done using IPL (intense pulsed light) many years ago. WHY WERE LASER TREATMENTS CONSIDERED UNSAFE FOR DARK SKIN TONES IN THE PAST? That’s why at Reflections we’ve made it our mission to curate a vast collection of devices in order to have safe options for any complexion. Saving time in the morning and feeling confident that you’re always sundress-ready is a wonderful feeling. Everyone can benefit from laser hair removal treatment.
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