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Laser hair removal with a trained and experienced medical provider is generally safer, especially for patients with darker skin tones. “This is because laser hair removal works by targeting melanin pigments, so a stronger contrast between the color of the skin and hair will yield the best results with minimal risk,” says Dr. Engleman. (It’s the same case for in-office hair removal treatments, which is why those with darker skin require extra consideration.)
“Since dark pigment is the target, there is an increased risk of heating up the dark pigment in the skin, and therefore it’s risky in darker skin types,” Heather Woolery Lloyd, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, tells Glamour. On the line? You could risk discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and potential scarring, says New York City dermatologist Gloria Lin, MD. “Any area that is darker on the body—for example, groin and armpits—should be lasered with caution, as the laser needs to be able to detect the difference between the skin and the hair color,” she says. (So avoid tanning before you do it.)
“Some at-home laser hair removal devices have been FDA-cleared, meaning they've passed the FDA requirements and are presumably safer,” add Dr. Yu.
Bottom line: Laser hair removal is generally regarded as safe and effective for those with light to medium skin tones and dark hair, but be cautious if you have a deeper skin tone.
