Laser on darker skin: what changes and what doesn’t
Darker skin can be treated safely with laser. It just can’t be treated with the same settings, or always the same device.
Written byDr. Marta QuilesLaser and pigmentFor years, patients with medium and darker skin were told laser wasn’t for them. That was a limit of the devices and training of the time, not of their skin.
What changes
Melanin absorbs laser energy. In darker skin, more of the energy is caught at the surface, which raises the risk of burns and dark marks. The answer is a longer wavelength, lower energy and more patience.
What doesn’t
The results. Hair reduction, scar improvement and texture all respond on darker skin when the plan is right. It may take a session or two more.
Before you book
Ask which wavelength the clinic uses for your skin type and how many patients with your skin tone they treat each month. Then ask for a test spot.
General information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor about your own skin.
Start with
a conversation.
Forty-five minutes with a doctor, in clinic or by video. You leave with a written plan and prices, whether or not you go ahead.
Book a consultation