Laser Hair Removal and Medications: Antibiotics, Antihistamines, Hormones...

Laser hair removal and medication: is it safe to combine?
This is often what people concerned ask themselves, and it is a recurring question, so, Laser Hair Removal and Medications: Antibiotics, Antihistamines, Hormones, ... this is precisely what we are going to focus on in this article.

It is necessary to take precautions when taking certain medications and to be able to undergo laser hair removal treatment without worry. Some treatments can be adapted according to the personal medical situation of each patient. At sssKin , we place the utmost importance on your health and the success of your laser hair removal treatment.

Understanding the Interaction Between Medications and Laser Hair Removal

The interaction between laser hair removal and medications does exist. In fact, complex mechanisms come into play and must be understood.
Laser Hair Removal and Medications: Antibiotics, Antihistamines, Hormones, etc.

Let's see what these mechanisms are:

Affected skin sensitivity

Taking certain medications, including antibiotics and lasers may cause photosensitization (skin sensitivity), i.e., a skin reaction when the laser light source approaches the skin. Laser photosensitizing medications can cause redness, similar to sunburn, but in these cases it appears disproportionate.

Laser-drug interaction

Hair removal lasers use specific wavelengths (755 nanometers for Alexandrite and 1064 nanometers for Nd:YAG). These wavelengths are UV-free, so it's helpful to know this. Here are the main possible effects of certain medications that interact with a laser:

It's absolutely essential to be transparent with your practitioner about medication and starting laser hair removal treatment. With the information in hand, your practitioner will be able to recommend a suitable laser treatment, so it's crucial not to hide any medication you're taking.

Below are some medications that you should inform your practitioner about, knowing that, contrary to popular belief, most medications that are targeted do not constitute an absolute contraindication to laser hair removal.

Sometimes, it's enough to simply adjust the laser treatment settings while ensuring your safety and health. Sometimes, depending on the case, laser treatment may be completely inadvisable.

Photosensitizing drugs

Medications that may increase skin sensitivity to light :

Hormonal and contraceptive treatments

Hormonal contraception can affect hair growth and treatment effectiveness. Hormonal fluctuations may require adjusting the number of sessions to achieve optimal results. If you are undergoing hormone therapy for cancer, laser treatment is generally not recommended.

Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories

Antibiotics are particularly monitored due to their photosensitizing potential. Your practitioner will pay special attention to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including:

Antidepressant medications

Psychiatric medications also require increased vigilance. Medications such as Alprazolam (Xanax®), Fluvoxamine (Floxyfral®), or Imipramine (Tofranil®) can alter skin sensitivity. A preliminary test is often recommended to assess your skin's reaction.

Safety Protocols for Laser Hair Removal Under Treatment

At our sssKin institute, we take appropriate measures whenever you inform us that you are taking medication. Using the latest generation of lasers , your permanent hair removal treatment will also be tailored to your specific case, whenever possible.
Here are the measures we recommend to avoid any problems.

Preliminary tests carried out:

It is advisable to do tests before starting laser treatment if you are taking medication, so a protocol is initiated:

Laser parameter adjustments

The practitioner adapts the laser parameters according to your case.
This involves adjusting the fluence and duration of the laser pulses, and specific skin cooling systems are used with the laser. 

Personalized medical monitoring

Personalized medical monitoring is also required in order to offer you a treatment that is fully adapted to your needs and to guarantee your health and safety. For this, a personalized protocol is implemented, which concerns:

Increased monitoring of your skin's reaction between laser sessions.
Complete transparency with the practitioner, especially if a change of medication is planned.
Sometimes a delay will be imposed between sessions or a recommended break will be accepted.

Alternatives and Solutions for Patients Under Treatment

If your medication requires a break from your laser hair removal sessions, don't worry. There are tailored solutions available to maintain your hair removal goals while respecting your medical needs.
Under these conditions, there are alternatives to your treatment, while waiting for the laser sessions to resume, here they are:

While waiting to be able to resume your laser hair removal sessions, you can use:

What drug treatments are compatible with laser?

It is important to know that photosensitization is extremely rare with the wavelengths used in laser hair removal (755 and 1064 nanometers). Therefore, in the majority of cases, it is not necessary to stop the drug treatment, but certain precautions should be taken:

• Pre-testing is recommended if you are taking photosensitizing medications.
• For hormonal treatments, such as contraception, special monitoring is necessary because they can influence hair growth.

Please note that electrolysis can be an excellent alternative if you are taking medications that are contraindicated with laser hair removal.

Conclusion :

As you will have understood, when you are taking medication and you are considering laser hair removal treatment, it is especially important to be very transparent with the practitioner you meet during the preliminary consultation.

Taking medication is not necessarily an obstacle to laser treatment, but there are precautions to take.

Today, technological advances and planned safety protocols allow laser treatment to be adapted with drug treatment.
It is therefore necessary to immediately establish a relationship of trust between practitioner and patient; this is the most important thing to put in place to ensure the success of a laser hair removal treatment.

FAQs

Can I take antihistamines before laser hair removal?

In practice, you should avoid applying any cream, ointment, or deodorant before a laser hair removal session. Anti-allergy and itching creams. Topical antihistamines can be photosensitizing.

Can you take antibiotics and have laser hair removal?

You must stop taking antibiotics for 2 full weeks before restarting laser hair removal or tattoo removal treatment to avoid possible side effects.

Who can't have laser hair removal?

People with porphyria, an inherited disorder of pigment metabolism, should not undergo laser hair removal. People taking steroids also have increased skin sensitivity and are not suitable for laser hair removal. Patients receiving gold therapy for arthritis and those taking blood thinners are not suitable for laser hair removal.

Can I have laser hair removal while taking metronidazole?

Taking Asamax and Metronidazole should not be a contraindication to laser hair removal. However, you should inform the person performing the procedure about all medications you are taking, as they will make the final decision.