04 Jul Skin Types – What Are They and What Do They Mean?
If you’ve been following our social media channels and other laser hair removal sites and channels, you may have seen skin types crop up. What exactly do we mean by skin types?
The Fitzpatrick Scale
The Fitzpatrick Scale is a scale that laser hair technicians use during consultations to determine how much pigmentation you have. Pigmentation in the skin is what makes a person have lighter or darker skin. The Fitzpatrick Scale is broken down into six sections:
Skin Type 1 – Very fair skin, burns easily
Skin Type 2 – Fair skin, often burns
Skin Type 3 – Medium white to olive skin, sometimes burns
Skin Type 4 – Medium brown skin, rarely burns
Skin Type 5 – Brown to dark brown skin, very rarely burns
Skin Type 6 – Dark brown to very dark brown & black skin, never burns but skin becomes darker
What Does This Mean for Laser Hair Removal?
Since laser hair removal focuses on pigment in the hair follicles, you’re probably wondering if this means that darker skinned people can get laser hair removal. You’re probably wondering if lighter skinned people can get laser if there’s little pigmentation in the skin. The answer is YES. Laser hair removal is safe for light and dark skin types as long as the laser used is the correct one for that skin type.
What Does This Mean for Lighter Skinned People?
Lighter skinned people are still able to get laser hair removal as the laser is attracted to the pigment in the hair follicles. As long as the hair present has pigment, you are an eligible candidate for laser hair removal. This means that hair with no pigment is not a suitable for laser hair removal. Unfortunately, white and grey hairs will not be destroyed during a laser hair removal session. The same goes for red and ginger hair. As always, we highly recommend a consultation and patch test for each person who is curious about laser hair removal. Laser hair removal therapists will be able to assess your hair and ensure the correct laser hair removal package is created for you.
What Does This Mean for Darker Skinned People?
Lasers for laser hair removal are designed to be attracted to pigment, so does this mean dark skin isn’t a suitable candidate for laser hair removal? NO! Numerous laser hair removal clinics can provide safe laser hair removal for dark skin. This is because modern advancements in technology have allowed the development and creation of lasers which travel beyond the pigmentation in the skin and ONLY target the hair follicle. This is why it is important for clients to discuss their laser removal needs with their laser hair removal service provider and to go for an in-person consultation and patch test.
Laser it Hair Removal Machine
At Laser it, our machine is top-grade with freeze technology. During our client’s consultation process, we analyze the skin and adjust the settings on our machine. Our machine has three different lasers built-in. This means that only the laser that suits each client will be used during their treatments. This is why we will only carry out our laser hair removal treatments after a patch test and consultation.
If you have any questions about skin types, laser hair removal and the services we offer at Laser it, contact us through our social media channels or fill out our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!
