Laser light is attracted to colour in the skin as well as to the colour in the dark hair root. The more sun-tanned the skin, the more risk of adverse side effects such as pigmentation changes and at worse a burn. At the Devon Laser Clinic we do not perform laser treatment on tanned skin.

At the Devon Laser Clinic we have an Nd:YAG laser which is the only laser that can be used Afro-Caribbean skin tones safely. Yes laser hair removal for dark skin is possible and we would be able to advise you fully during an initial consultation.

As long as you do not have a recent suntan and your hair colour is darker than your skin you can have laser hair reduction. At the Devon Laser Clinic as we use a Long Pulsed Nd:YAG on naturally darker skin types with good success.

Best results are seen with people who have lighter skin and darker hair. Dark hair is more easily treated as it has a high concentration of melanin. Ladies who are pregnant or breastfeeding and persons with a suntan will not be treated at the Devon Laser Clinic. Certain medications are also contraindicated such as Roaccutane and blood thinners.  Minimum age for laser treatment is 18 years old at the Devon Laser Clinic.

Light is absorbed by the melanin (the pigment in the hair follicle). The light energy heats the pigment and effectively destroys the cells in the hair follicle which are responsible for hair growth, without damaging the surrounding cell.

The laser guide is placed on the skin and a short pulse of light is released, which targets many follicles simultaneously. The applicator is then moved to the neighbouring area of the skin and the process is repeated until the entire area is covered.