{"id":2006,"date":"2025-06-05T12:41:04","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T11:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radiancemag.co.uk\/?p=2006"},"modified":"2025-06-05T12:41:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T11:41:23","slug":"the-dark-side-of-laser-hair-removal-lets-talk-about-hyperpigmentation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/radiancemag\/2025\/06\/05\/the-dark-side-of-laser-hair-removal-lets-talk-about-hyperpigmentation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dark Side of Laser Hair Removal: Let\u2019s talk about Hyperpigmentation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Laser hair removal promises smooth, hair-free skin – but for many people of colour, it can lead to stubborn hyperpigmentation. Anna-Louise Adepegba shares her personal journey and, with expert skincare advice from Rao Ayoka, explores how to understand, treat, and protect your skin from this common side effect.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember looking in the bathroom mirror disheartedly, as I grazed my fingers gently over my cheeks. The developing dark patches I had been ignoring for weeks, were now too apparent to ignore. They varied in size and shades of brown, some more red than others. I was annoyed. I couldn’t quite work out where they\u2019d come from, or what I\u2019d been doing differently in my skin care to get them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was until I remembered – I dropped a bomb of money on a package of laser hair removal sessions around 3 months beforehand. I had been tired of my extensive sideburns and occasional chin hairs – my mum’s genes. Though now I had three problems, still hairy, \u00a3280 pounds down, and a new skin issue I had to navigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was after a couple months of denial and research that I accepted the connection was quite clear – the patches lined up with my chosen areas of treatment. Luckily, it is a widely discussed condition, but it meant I had a lot of varying narratives to cipher through online.This article may mean you don’t have to do what I did, and I\u2019ve got someone to help us along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rao Ayoka, licensed Aesthetician and founder of Ananta Skin Clinic, was passionate about educating people on skincare online without \u2018jargon\u2019 when she started her tiktok. She wanted to show it can be \u2018simple and affordable\u2019 , which helped me a lot when I was soon met with the annoying realisation  that I had Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rao was a great help, and she can be for you too once we\u2019ve delved into the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sigh. I\u2019ll tell you now it wasn\u2019t the end of the world, I still have a few light patches left while writing this, and I\u2019m still feeling confident and beautiful in my skin while I heal and accept the unwanted side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the key to start healing your skin, and feeling less discouraged , Rao tells us is \u2018education\u2019. So Let\u2019s begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And why did I, and likely many of you reading, end up with the frustrating side effect after investing so much into your skin?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more<\/strong>: What\u2019s that, is that HYPERPIGMENTATION? – Radiance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyperpigmentation can show up differently, depending on skin tone, it can appear red, pink, and most commonly brown. Also, it may be bumpy, and patches vary in size. Those with medium and dark skin tones are widely known to be more at risk.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This case of hyperpigmentation is Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, a result of laser technology which essentially damages your hair follicle to work – the \u2018skin trauma\u2019. We\u2019ll cover the science behind laser soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although not painful, it can have a great effect on your self image and confidence. After investing in your skin enough to book laser hair removal, the marks feel unfortunate and unfair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to LM Skin Centre, doctors estimate that only around 5 – 10% of laser treatment patients develop PIH as a side effect. Although obviously low, it still means one thing, that you\u2019re totally not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing exactly what\u2019s happening with your skin can be a good thing when you begin navigating the healing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is laser hair removal? And why can it leave some of us with these scars?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laser hair removal uses concentrated light beams to target the pigment (melanin) in hair follicles. The light is absorbed by the pigment, which heats up and damages the follicle to reduce future hair growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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@jessicainjects<\/a>

Not all lasers are created equal, especially for diverse skin tones and types. In this video, you\u2019ll see an example of what can happen when the wrong laser is used\u2014this patient\u2019s skin was injured simply because the laser wasn\u2019t suited to their skin type. Whether addressing pigmentation, acne scars, or looking for a glow-up, selecting the correct laser is key. Some lasers can deliver stunning results on lighter skin tones but may cause hyperpigmentation or superficial burns on deeper tones. That\u2019s why customized laser treatments, paired with a deep understanding of individual skin needs, are essential to achieving safe and effective results for everyone. CC: @ neradior #gonewrong<\/a> #treatmentgonewrong<\/a> #laserburn<\/a> #skincomplexion<\/a> #healthyskin<\/a> #aestheticmedicine<\/a> #aesthetictreatments<\/a> #SkinRejuvenation<\/a> #lasertreatment<\/a> #injectables<\/a> #beautyexpert<\/a> #facialaesthetics<\/a> #aestheticmedicine<\/a> <\/p> \u266c Spooky, quiet, scary atmosphere piano songs – Skittlegirl Sound<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>