Can I get nerve damage from laser hair removal?
There’s a lot of information out there about potential side-effects of laser hair removal—but what’s true and what’s simply a myth?
Well, the list of laser hair removal myths is way too long to tackle in one blog post, so we’ll focus on answering one of the more popular questions out there: does laser hair removal cause nerve damage?
Here’s what we know about laser hair removal and the potential for nerve damage.
…the heat used in this process only penetrates deep enough to reach the hair follicle and does not reach a depth that would cause deep nerve damage.
Sensory Nerves & Laser Hair Removal
It’s true that there are sensory nerve fibers that communicate with your hair follicle, and these nerve fibers are eliminated when the hair follicle is destroyed during a laser hair removal treatment. However, there are no negative side effects to having the superficial nerve fibers associated with your hair follicle damaged or eliminated in the treatment process.
While this might sound a bit scary, the fact is that you won’t even notice the change—well, except for the lack of hair—and the reality of this myth is that symptomatic nerve damage from laser hair removal is almost unheard of.
That’s because while the laser targets the hair follicle and destroys it, the heat used in this process only penetrates deep enough to reach the hair follicle and does not reach a depth that would cause deep nerve damage.
While a potential risk of laser hair removal, especially at higher settings, is a burn to the skin. It would take a very significant laser setting to give a third-degree burn, especially one that causes nerve injury. And that situation would almost certainly be the result of someone using inappropriate laser settings—another reason why choosing the right place to perform your treatments is important. You want to make sure that you have an expert performing your treatments and not just anyone at a med spa.
What does this mean for you?
It means that you have nothing to worry about—there really is no risk of nerve damage from laser hair removal as long as you have the procedure done at a place that knows what they are doing.
When performed properly, laser hair removal does not cause nerve damage, and the only long-lasting effect you’ll see is smooth, hair-free skin!