Does Laser Hair Removal Cause Cancer?

Does laser hair removal cause cancer might sound like a random question to ask but it is one that potential customers wonder about before going ahead with the process. With decades of history behind it, you’d think that we’d know everything there is to know about long term effects of laser hair removal procedures.

But given that laser hair removal damages hair follicles by zapping the skin with light, it’s worth knowing everything we can up front, isn’t it? Especially when there are known side effects that can and do occur.

People hear the word laser and seemingly think of Hollywood movies with red laser beams destroying planets and cutting through steel. While laser does have destructive powers, they are also used for health-related purposes, and have been for some time.

Is laser hair removal dangerous? Let’s take a closer look.

A Quick History of Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal really came into prominence in the 1990s when the FDA began approving several laser hair removal products for that purpose in 1997.

Questions that potential hair removal customers wonder about often relates to long term health dangers of laser hair removal. Namely:

• Does laser hair removal cause cancer?
• Are there long term health effects of laser hair removal?
• Is laser hair removal dangerous?

Let’s take a look at each question in more detail and the reason why people often wonder about the answer.

Does Laser Hair Removal Cause Cancer?

People hear the word laser and get scared. It’s natural. Here’s the lowdown on the laser that is used for hair removal:

The myth that laser hair removal therapy can cause cancer is unfounded. The lasers are specially designed to pass through the skin cells and target only the hair follicles deep within the skin.

The lasers used in laser hair removal do produce a small amount of radiation. However, this radiation is not thought to be harmful, and there is no evidence that laser hair removal therapy causes skin cancer.

Medical News Today

Does Laser Hair Removal Use UV Light?

Certain types of light in the ultraviolet (UV) light range are associated with skin cancer. Laser hair removal does not use UV light so this risk does not exist.

Additionally, the light energy from a laser hair removal machine only enters the body superficially, just to the bottom of the hair follicle at best. So the laser flash doesn’t go anywhere near bodily organs and only enters the body briefly targeting the bottom of each hair follicle at best.

So there is no evidence that laser hair removal causes cancer. Having said that, there are still health and safety concerns to be aware of.

Are There Long Term Health Effects Of Laser Hair Removal?

This is a general question that could mean different things to different people. Let’s look at from a few different but relevant angles.

Laser Hair Removal Health Concerns

In 2016, dermatologist Dr Gary Chuang released research suggesting that there is a danger with long term exposure to the the burning hair smell that often occurs during laser (and IPL) hair removal. I can speak from experience that the smell does occur and I recall smelling a burning scent while having both laser and IPL treatment done as the hair was being zapped.

In summary, the report found that the smell was a combination of the burning hair and chemicals. In fact, they found that the smoke plume contained 377 chemical compounds some of which are known carcinogens like benzene as well as environmental hazards like CO2.

The conclusion of the report stated:

These findings establish the concern that the burning-hair plume often present during LHR* should be considered a biohazard, warranting the use of smoke evacuators, good ventilation, and respiratory protection, especially for health care workers with prolonged exposure to LHR plume.

JAMA Dermatology
*LHR = Laser Hair Removal

So the general conclusion was the main concern is for healthcare workers and anyone who actually operates a laser hair removal machine since they would have regular exposure to the burning hair smell. The report recommends practitioners wear a mask and have ventilation that suits the environment.

I recall having both laser and IPL treatments in smallish-sized rooms but I don’t recall the practitioner ever wearing a mask in either case.

Laser Hair Removal And Eye Damage

You’ve probably heard stories about people using laser pointers to temporarily blind people, waving it to distract athletes at sporting events and things of that nature. Lasers emit a bright light at various levels and while this type of commercially available laser is on the low side, laser used for hair removal is clearly at a different level.

Laser – and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) – hair removal procedures require both the person receiving and performing the treatment to wear special safety goggles to protect their eyes from the laser’s flash.

The flash from a laser hair removal machine can damage your eyes and that’s why it’s vitally important to wear the special protective glasses supplied during the procedure. There have been reported cases as discussed by JAMA Ophthalmology research where patients were receiving laser hair removal treatment on the eyebrows area and in even though they were wearing the protective glasses still suffered damage to their eyes and in some cases, blurred vision and pain shortly after the treatment.

I had laser and IPL treatment on my back and still wore the protective glasses even though the light wasn’t coming anywhere near my eyes and I was lying face down. I did occasionally have to lie on my back for hair removal work on my shoulders and admit to closing my eyes the entire time it was being done, even while wearing the protective glasses, just in case.

Is Laser Hair Removal Dangerous?

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

Most side effects of laser hair removal relate to short term ones that typically occur immediately after treatment such as:

• Swelling and irritation of skin
• Sensitivity of skin similar to a mild sunburn
• Sensitivity to sun for several days after treatment
• Ingrown hairs that appear a few days after treatment

More serious side effects are blistering, crusting of skin, burns, scarring and other rare side effects. These can occur but tend to be the exception rather than the rule.

Laser Hair Removal And Hair Growth

But what else can one expect to face longer term with laser hair removal?

One interesting side effect that occurs for a small number of patients is the exact opposite of what you desire when laser hair removal is done:

Hair growth.

Research from the University of British Columbia in 2014 suggested that in rare cases, laser and light therapy could actually increase hair growth for some people rather than help remove it.

A further research study also from 2014 concluded that in some cases, low level laser therapy at 665nm on the scalp could assist in hair growth in males with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness).

By way of comparison, the laser hair removal technology with the wavelength that closely resembles this test is the Ruby laser at 694nm.

Conclusion

While laser technology has been in use since the 1960s, it wasn’t until 1995 that the first commercially produced laser hair removal product (SoftLight by Thermolase) was approved by the FDA. But when Thermolase incorrectly claimed that it offered permanent hair removal and was painless, they ended up getting sued by many customers who didn’t achieve permanent hair removal. Following release of research that verified that the permanent hair removal claim was untrue, SoftLight was discontinued.

In 1997, the FDA approved several new products for hair removal – with no guarantees of permanent hair removal this time – which is why you might often see 1997 stated as the year when the FDA approved the first hair removal product.

Laser hair removal does not offer permanent hair removal but with repeated, professional treatments can offer clients permanent hair reduction over time.

While there are side effects as listed above, when done properly most side effects are temporary and disappear a few days after treatment. There is no current evidence to suggest that using laser hair removal causes cancer.

To learn more about the four types of lasers currently used for hair treatment, check out my Laser Hair Removal For Men (2020) page for much more detailed info.