Can You Get Laser Hair Removal with Eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition that affects people around the globe. Some develop eczema as children and eventually grow out of it, but many individuals experience eczema flare-ups throughout their lives and into adulthood. There is no cure for eczema, but there are a number of medications available to manage the condition when a flare-up occurs, such as topical creams and steroids. Suffering from eczema often means being mindful of the irritants that your skin comes into contact with; you might find yourself having to use specific soaps and shower gels or only being able to use a certain washing detergent.

During an eczema flare-up, you are likely to experience inflamed, dry, rough, and scaly patches of skin. These can occur anywhere on the body, though some areas are more commonly affected than others. Skin is more susceptible to an eczema flare-up if it’s been irritated in some way, which is why a lot of people worry that laser hair removal treatment is unsafe for those with eczema.

There is a common misconception that having eczema means not being able to safely have laser hair removal treatment. However, you can certainly undergo laser hair removal treatment as an eczema sufferer, but there are certain things to bear in mind.

Are Laser Treatments good for Eczema Skin?

Many people worry that eczema might prevent them from safely undergoing laser treatments. In reality, laser procedures can be safe for eczema-prone skin, as long as the treatment area is not currently affected by a flare-up. Eczema often appears in specific areas such as elbows, knees, hands, face, or around the eyes. If the area you wish to treat is clear, laser treatments can usually proceed without issue.

Because eczema is cyclical and flare-ups come and go, it is important to wait until the skin is fully healed before treatment. Any active inflammation, redness, or irritation must be resolved, and certain medications or topical creams may need to be paused because they can affect the skin’s response to laser treatment. With careful timing and professional guidance, laser treatments can be safely incorporated into a skincare plan for those with eczema

Does Having Eczema Affect Laser Hair Removal Treatment?

Yes, having eczema does affect laser hair removal treatment somewhat, but it’s unlikely to stop results completely. If you are experiencing an eczema flare-up, your laser hair removal treatment will need to be paused until the skin has completely healed. This means that the course of treatment will be longer than initially anticipated. Continuing on during an eczema flare-up will not only hinder results, but it’s likely to be painful and cause lasting damage to the skin.

During a course of laser hair removal treatment, sessions will usually be between four and six weeks apart, depending on the area of the body being targeted. If you experience a flare-up during this time, you may need a longer gap between sessions. Plus, you may need to wait longer to see laser hair removal results, which also allows for more regrowth. If the interval between sessions is extended to the point that there is a lot of regrowth, more laser hair removal sessions could be needed, and the overall course of treatment could be longer.

The eczema medication you are taking could also affect laser hair removal treatment results, which is why it’s important to discuss this beforehand. Some creams prescribed for eczema are light-sensitive, so you won’t be able to undergo laser treatment while using them. Similarly, eczema creams that use steroids will also possibly need to be stopped and given time to leave the body, which can mean that treatment takes longer than first thought.

Though having eczema is unlikely to change laser hair removal treatment results entirely – it works just as well on those with eczema compared to those without – flare-ups could mean that the time it takes to complete your course of treatment is longer than for skin that is free of the condition.

Are Laser Hair Removal Treatments Better for Eczema Than Shaving?

There are a variety of ways to remove unwanted body hair; you can shave or wax, and there are lots of hair removal creams and ointments available. However, laser hair removal is continually listed as one of the best ways to get rid of unwanted hair. This is because laser hair removal provides a long-lasting and effective way to remove hair from various areas of the body, such as the face, underarms, and bikini area. Though a number of sessions are needed, to begin with, laser hair removal provides a much more permanent solution and doesn’t need to be ‘kept on top of’ in the same way that shaving or waxing does.

For those with eczema, there is another major benefit that comes with choosing laser hair removal. Many things can contribute to an eczema flare-up; certain foods, the weather, beauty products, allergens, soaps, and washing detergents are all common irritants. Shaving and waxing also fall into this category, as they can irritate the skin and cause an eczema flare-up. By opting for laser treatment and removing the need to shave or wax completely, hair removal treatment is one less eczema trigger to worry about.

Professional Laser Hair Removal Treatment in Cambridge

In conclusion, it’s safe to have laser hair removal treatment for someone who suffers from eczema, as long as treatment is not carried out on the affected skin. If you are experiencing an eczema flare-up, you will need to wait until the skin is healed before laser hair removal treatment begins. 

To find out more about laser hair removal treatment and whether it’s an option with your current eczema, speak to a specialist at our laser clinic in Cambridge to discuss your options.