Is At-Home Laser Hair Removal Harmful? IPL Device Safety

What is an at-home laser or IPL hair removal device, and how does it differ from a clinic device?

At-home hair removal devices are smaller, lower-energy versions of clinic laser and IPL devices (intense pulsed light: a technology that emits a broad range of light rather than a single wavelength). The working principle is the same: the light is absorbed by the colouring matter (melanin) in the hair, turns into heat and affects the hair root (follicle). We have explained how treatment in a clinic works in our article “Laser Hair Removal”; we do not repeat it here.

The main difference is the energy level. Home devices are designed to work at much lower energy than clinic devices so that a person can use them on their own and the likelihood of serious injury can be kept low. This comes at a cost: the effect comes more slowly, remains more limited and requires regular use. In addition, at home there is no healthcare professional to supervise the treatment, assess your skin and change the setting when necessary. This is why the device’s own safety systems and the instructions for use are an important part of the protection.

What can you expect from an at-home hair removal device?

The evidence on home devices is limited. A review examining these devices reported that most studies were small, short, without a control group and supported by manufacturers, and that the results could be considered only 'moderate'. Still, a few controlled studies provide information that can help you keep your expectations realistic:

• The effect is slower: in a small study of 15 people comparing a home device with a clinic diode laser in the armpit, hair decreased by about half with the home device after six treatments, and markedly more with the clinic device.
• The effect lasts as long as use continues: in a controlled study with a low-energy home laser, the number of growing hairs decreased, and the remaining hairs became finer and lighter, for as long as weekly treatment continued.
• Hair comes back when you stop: in the same study, after treatment was stopped the hair gradually returned to its former level; three months later, the number of growing hairs even exceeded that at the start. This study is small and was carried out with a single type of device, but it shows that home devices are not a 'do it once and be done with it' kind of method.
• No effect is expected on light-coloured hair: because there is little colouring matter to absorb the light, blond, red, grey and white hair may not respond.

In other words, a home device is not an equivalent that replaces the clinic, but a slower, more limited option that requires regular repetition. Weigh promises such as 'permanent' or 'results from the first session' against this information.

Is at-home laser hair removal harmful? What side effects can occur?

When used according to the instructions, the most common side effects are mild and temporary: redness, warmth and a stinging sensation. Less commonly, blistering, crusting and colour changes (dark spots or lightening) have been reported. In an analysis of six years of voluntary complaint records collected by a manufacturer after market launch, the most frequently reported problems were skin pain, burns and redness. This analysis was carried out by the manufacturer and, because it is based on voluntary reporting, does not show the true frequency; but it does show that burns are a real problem with home devices too.

The most important factor determining the size of the risk is skin colour. In a controlled study with low-energy IPL, redness and pain increased both as the energy increased and as the skin became darker. The same study showed that a tan acquired from the sun carried a similar degree of risk to naturally dark skin. In other words, tanned skin behaves like 'dark skin' as far as the device is concerned.

If you think hair has increased after a home device (paradoxical hair growth), our article “Problems after Laser Hair Removal” is a useful guide, and for details on burns and dark spots, our article “Burns and Pigmentation Changes after Laser and IPL”.

Is this normal? What to do depending on the symptom

If you have one of the emergency symptoms in this table, call 112 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency department.

Who should not use an at-home hair removal device?

The first document that determines whether you can use it is the device’s own instructions for use. European Union rules require the manufacturer to address different skin types, the degree of tanning, skin diseases and medicines or cosmetics that cause sensitivity to light separately in its risk assessment. That is why the 'do not use' lists in the instructions exist. In the following situations, do not use the device, or consult your physician first:

• A skin tone excluded by the instructions: if the skin colour chart in the instructions shows your skin tone as 'not suitable', do not use the device. On dark skin, some of the light is absorbed by the colouring matter in the skin; the risk of burns and dark spots increases. For the choice of suitable devices in a clinic for darker skin, see our article “Laser, IPL and Chemical Peels on Olive and Darker Skin”.
• Tanned skin or skin recently exposed to the sun: sunbeds and tanning products are included. How long you need to wait is stated in the instructions; if not, ask your physician.
• Tattoos, permanent make-up (pigmentation of the brows, lips or eyeliner): ink absorbs light strongly; burns and discolouration of the tattoo can occur.
• Moles, dark spots, warts or any undiagnosed lesion: see the details below.
• Around the eyes: areas close to the eye, including the lower part of the brow and the eyelids.
• Skin with a rash, such as wounds, active cold sores, eczema, psoriasis or inflamed spots.
• Medicines or herbal products that cause sensitivity to light: some antibiotics, diuretics, acne medicines and St John’s wort are examples. Do not stop these medicines on your own; consult your physician. Details are in our article “Medicines That Cause Sensitivity to Light”.
• In women, newly started or rapidly increasing hair growth on the face, chin, chest or abdomen: this may be due to a hormonal cause; an examination is needed first.

If the device’s skin tone sensor gives a 'not suitable' warning and does not emit light, do not treat this as a fault; do not try to get round the sensor, have it measure another area or force the device on a skin tone the instructions exclude.

Why should it never be used over a mole or dark spot?

Because moles contain a high concentration of colouring matter, they absorb light strongly; a burn can develop at that spot and the colour, border or size of the mole can change. The real danger is that a mole whose appearance has changed becomes harder to assess later: early warning signs of skin cancer may be missed. European Union rules also require the manufacturer to tell users to protect moles and lesions during use.

Under the same rules, these devices made for home use may be used only for hair removal. So do not use a home light device to 'lighten dark spots', 'remove moles' or get rid of a bump. Which moles and dark spots should be shown to a physician, and when, is explained in our article “Moles, Skin Tags and Spots”.

Can an IPL device damage the eyes?

It can. The coloured part of the eye (iris) and its inner layer (retina) also contain colouring matter and therefore absorb light. The basic way of protecting the eyes with home devices is that the device does not emit light unless it is in full contact with the skin. European Union rules require home devices to include a locking system that allows them to work only when there is full contact with the skin, a time limit preventing excessive exposure and automatic switch-off, and require the manufacturer to provide suitable eye protection for the user and people nearby.

Although these systems are important, they are not flawless. In a technical study measuring the light output of three home IPL devices, one of the devices was found to be hazardous when looked at with the naked eye at its two highest settings; it was stated that eye safety could be inadequate if the main safety mechanism failed. This study is old and does not represent all of today’s devices; but it explains the reason for the rule:

• Never look into the light-emitting window; do not switch the device on without placing it fully on the skin.
• If the instructions recommend eye protection or it was supplied with the device, be sure to use it.
• Do not use it around the eyes, under the brow or on the eyelids.
• Keep children and pets away during use; store the device out of the reach of children.
• Mirrors and shiny surfaces can reflect light; do not carry out the treatment facing them.

Eye injuries and their symptoms reported with clinic treatments are covered in detail in our article “Problems after Laser Hair Removal”.

What should you do if a home device causes a burn?

1. Stop using the device immediately; do not continue treating the same area or other areas.
2. If there are eye symptoms, get emergency help without waiting. You can find the first aid steps for a skin burn (cool water, no ice, no rubbing) in our article “Burns and Pigmentation Changes after Laser and IPL”.
3. Take a photo of the area. Note the type of device (IPL or laser), the energy setting you used, the date of use, how many times you treated the same spot and the medicines you take.
4. If there is blistering, crusting, grey-white skin or a mark in the shape of the device head, show it to a physician the same day. Do not pop blisters.
5. Keep the device and its box. Report the problem to the seller or the manufacturer; remember that manufacturers are obliged to deal with incidents that must be reported.
6. During healing, protect the area from the sun and do not use the device again before the skin has fully healed; ask your physician whether you can use it again.

How should you read the instructions and device warnings?

Whatever the make or model, look for the following information in the instructions before using a device. European Union rules require much of this information to be included in the instructions for use; if you cannot find it, this is a warning sign.

• Skin colour and hair colour chart: it should state clearly on which skin tones and hair colours it cannot be used.
• Settings and frequency: the highest recommended setting, the minimum interval between two treatments and how many times the same spot can be treated in a row. Treating the same spot again and again increases the risk of burns; it does not 'speed up' the result.
• Safety features: full skin contact lock, skin tone sensor, automatic switch-off and eye protection.
• Interacting medicines and cosmetics: medicines and products that cause sensitivity to light should be listed.
• Sun and sunbed warning: for how long sun should be avoided before and after use.
• Prohibited areas: clear warnings for areas such as around the eyes, tattoos, moles, mucous membranes (moist surfaces such as the inside of the mouth or nose) and the genital area.
• Instructional video and contact details: in the European Union, manufacturers are required to provide videos online showing safe use. For devices without manufacturer or importer details or without instructions in the language of the country where they are sold (in Turkey: Turkish), our article “Counterfeit Products and Unlicensed Treatments” can give you an idea.

Phrases on the box such as 'FDA registered' are not a guarantee on their own. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states clearly that the registration phrase does not mean that the device has been approved, cleared or authorised, and that such phrases can be used misleadingly.

Which rules apply to at-home hair removal devices?

Although at-home laser and IPL devices do not have a medical purpose, in many countries they are subject to rules similar to those for medical devices. The table below summarises only information that can be verified in official texts; it is not always possible to tell from the box whether a device complies with these rules.

When should you see a physician first?

• If you are not sure whether your skin tone is suitable for the device, or if you have developed dark spots after laser or IPL before.
• If there is a mole, a dark spot or a new or changing lesion in the area you want to treat.
• In women, if there is newly started or rapidly increasing hair growth on the face, chin or body; if it is accompanied by irregular periods or an increase in spots.
• If you take medicines regularly, are pregnant or have a chronic skin disease.
• If you have previously had a burn, blistering or dark spots after a home device.
• If you are not getting results on light-coloured hair or dark skin: discussing other options in a clinic is safer than forcing the device.

What should you not do?

• Do not try to get round the skin tone sensor, the contact lock or the eye protection feature.
• For faster results, do not use the highest setting on areas the instructions do not recommend; do not treat the same spot repeatedly.
• Do not wax or pluck the area before use; the instructions usually call for shaved skin.
• Do not share the device with others, especially people whose skin tone is not suitable according to the instructions.
• Do not use it on moles, dark spots, tattoos, wounds or rashes; do not use the home device for any purpose other than hair removal.
• Do not keep using it after a burn or dark spot has developed, telling yourself 'it will pass'.

Limits of the evidence: most studies on at-home laser and IPL devices are small, short and supported by manufacturers; because the energy and wavelength of the devices differ, the results for one device cannot be transferred to another. The frequencies of side effects are largely based on voluntary reports and do not fully show the true frequency. Data on the safety of home devices on dark skin are particularly limited. This page is for general information and does not replace an examination.