Ladies can have many different ways of cultivating their appearance. They can include all sorts of things to do with hair and makeup, piercings, tattoos and laser hair removal.
However, the last two of these are not easy bedfellows, which is why if you are keen to use laser treatments for hair removal, you should think very carefully if and where to get any tattoos.
An article for Byrdie on the issue heard experts warning that that the process of laser hair removal was not suited for an area with a tattoo on it, because the body art will interfere with the process.
Michele Green, a dermatologist from New York, noted that the problem arises because laser hair treatment targets the follicle to remove its pigment, which becomes a problem when the area has been filled with tattoo ink.
“The laser will detect and target the pigment in the tattoo ink instead of the hair, which can result in a burn, pain, and damage to the skin and tattoo,” she explained.
Another dermatologist, Dr Brian Hibler, commented: “A burn in the skin could result in a permanent scar and disfiguration.”
Such warnings may have come too late if you have already got a tattoo in an area where you have hair growths you want to address, but it may help some make a smart decision over where not to get a tattoo should this be something they are considering.
However, the two New York experts do agree that waxing, careful shaving and electrolysis are all viable alternatives to laser treatment for those with an inconveniently-located tattoo.
Indeed, Ms Green is a woman in big demand, for she has also been quoted in a recent Harper’s Bazaar article on electrolysis. She noted it can be effective in permanent hair removal, but can hurt and requires up to a year of treatment.
Therefore, it seems like laser treatment is still a smart option overall. It just means you should be careful where you get a tat.