Hair removal side effects,

the claim that “755nm is safer”

should not be taken at face value

Last Wednesday, a 26-year-old woman

with dark brown patches on both underarms

came to the clinic.

She had received Alexandrite (755nm)

at another clinic five times, but starting from the third session, she kept

noticing the color getting darker,

which she found strange.

“I was told hair removal would make it clean,

so why did it get even duller?”

was this client's first question.

Hair removal side effects all look the same, right?

But the truth is

Laser hair removal side effects are broadly

divided into three types.

Burns, folliculitis, and pigmentation.

If all of these are simply lumped together as “a side effect,”

the response becomes completely misdirected.

Burns are epidermal damage, folliculitis is bacterial or irritant inflammation,

and pigmentation is a melanin overreaction,

so the causes themselves are completely different.

Why is it that with the same hair removal,

some people get pigmentation

and others don’t?

“1064nm penetrates deeper, so

the risk of epidermal burns is relatively low.

For Korean skin with lots of melanin, it actually

causes less pigmentation than 755nm.”

— Director Wi Young-jin (Hongdae Beautystone Clinic)

Actually, this is something I hear in the clinic

two or three times a week.

Let me explain with the case of the 26-year-old who came in last month.

The 755nm Alexandrite she received

has a short wavelength, so its penetration depth is shallow.

About 1–2 mm, roughly.

But Korean skin has an epidermal melanin content

much higher than that of Western skin.

The shallow-penetrating 755nm doesn’t just hit the follicle’s melanin,

it also stimulates the epidermal melanin

at the same time.

Then melanocytes produce more pigment as a defense response,

and that remains as PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).

By contrast, 1064nm Nd:YAG has a longer wavelength,

so it penetrates deeply to 4–5 mm.

It passes almost through the epidermal melanin

and acts deep in the follicle.

So the risk of epidermal burns is low,

and for melanin-rich skin like Korean skin, the rate of pigmentation

drops to about

one-third of that with 755nm.

This patient also switched to 1064nm, and after three sessions,

the pigmentation faded and the amount of hair also decreased.

She said, “I wish I had known this sooner.”

Director Wi Young-jin’s key summary

For Korean skin, “which laser you use”

determines the side effect rate.

755nm isn’t inherently bad,

but for melanin-rich skin, 1064nm can be the safer

choice.

That is even more true if the skin is tanned in summer.

Hair removal side effects — see

which category you fall into

Especially in summer, ultraviolet rays

double the side effects.

You should apply SPF50 or higher every day

before and after the procedure.

If you undergo treatment on tanned skin, epidermal melanin

absorbs the laser, and the risk of burns

rises sharply.

Scheduling treatment within 1–2 weeks after a summer vacation is

the most dangerous timing.

It’s safest to leave at least a month.

The three things clients ask about most

— I’ll answer honestly

Q1. Small bumps appeared the day after treatment,

can I just leave them alone?

A. In most cases, it’s the early stage of folliculitis.

If you squeeze them with your hands or exfoliate, bacteria can

get in further and leave scars.

For the first 24 hours, only soothe the area; if pustules still

increase after two days, an antibiotic ointment is needed.

Q2. If pigmentation appears, will it disappear if I leave it alone?

A. In mild cases, it gradually fades naturally

over 3–6 months.

But if you don’t manage UV exposure,

it can actually get darker.

SPF50 protection and applying whitening ingredients are first-line,

and if the symptoms linger, a low-dose toning laser

may be used in combination.

Q3. If it turns red and swells after treatment,

is it always a side effect?

A. Slight swelling and redness around the follicles right after treatment

is a normal reaction.

It usually settles within 2–24 hours.

The problem is when it lasts more than 48 hours

or is accompanied by blisters or oozing.

At that point, don’t delay

and go to the clinic where you had the procedure.

If you take away just one thing today,

— on Korean skin, wavelength selection

determines half of the side effects.

In the next post,

I’ll go over the “UV and exfoliation care protocol you must follow for two weeks before a hair removal procedure.”

This was Wi Young-jin.

Read together

• Beard hair removal: Don’t believe the claim that it can be permanently removed unless it’s GentleMax Pro Plus

• GentleMax beard hair removal: Why simply increasing the number of sessions doesn’t help

• Underarm laser hair removal: How many sessions does it take? A realistic session-count summary

GentleMax Pro Plus hair removal treatment details

This month: GentleMax Pro Plus

Frequently asked questions

Q. Small pimple-like bumps appeared the day after the procedure. Is it okay to just leave them alone?

A. It is mostly an early stage of folliculitis. If you squeeze it by hand or exfoliate, more bacteria can get in and may leave scars.

Q. If pigmentation develops, will it go away on its own if left alone?

A. In mild cases, it naturally fades over 3 to 6 months. However, if you don’t take care to protect against UV exposure, it can actually become darker.

Q. Is redness and swelling after the procedure always a side effect?

A. It is a normal reaction for the area around the hair follicles to be slightly swollen and red right after the procedure. It usually subsides within 2 to 24 hours.

Q. Is it okay to get laser hair removal right after getting a tan from your summer vacation?

A. It’s best to avoid this treatment immediately after tanning. Since the melanin in your epidermis can absorb the laser and significantly increase the risk of burns, it is safest to wait at least one month before getting the procedure.