Can you get laser hair removal over a tattoo, moles or freckles?

That pesky hair that is growing out of your mole--you hate it and want it to die. But, can you get laser hair removal over a tattoo, moles, or over your freckles? The answers are not very complicated, but there are reasons why you have to use caution when performing at-home laser hair removal. Let's take a look!

How does laser hair removal work?

First, we need to understand how laser hair removal works. In basic terms, the laser beam from a hair removal device targets the pigment in the hair follicle on freshly shaven skin. The only way that the laser can find the pigment is if the skin tone is lighter than the pigment color of the hair. If the skin is darker than the hair’s pigment, or if the hair color has little to no pigment in it, the laser cannot find the hair follicle–resulting in the laser not treating those hairs. [caption id="attachment_1057" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Don't do it: Keep your hair removal laser away from moles. So, because a mole can be dark brown or black, the melanin (the natural skin pigment) competes with the color of the hair, resulting in the laser targeting the skin of the mole and not the hair. If the laser targets the pigment in the mole, it can cause a burn, remove the mole from the skin, and yes, it will probably be painful. With this in mind, you can imagine that the laser will also target the ink pigment in your tattoos--with possible burns and accidental tattoo removal. You definitely do not want to experience that sensation! 

How can you avoid burning moles and tattoos?

Use a white kohl eyeliner pencil to cover moles.[/caption] If you are afraid that you will accidentally target a mole or a tattoo, there is a simple solution to keep yourself safe! There are a couple of ways to cover your moles, but you can use a white pencil (like a white kohl eyeliner pencil) to draw on the mole so that the laser does not detect the melanin. You can also use a white circle sticker to place over the mole during treatment, and just treat around the sticker. For tattoos, it is easy to place white medical tape on the border of your tattoos so that you don't accidentally target the ink zones.

Are freckles safe to laser?

Yes! You can go over your beautiful sunkissed freckled skin without harm. We suggest taking a good look through your freckle constellation and making sure there are no raised moles or very dark moles that could be present. You can draw over those areas with the white kohl pencil just to be on the safe side. Then you are ready to go blast away those hair follicles! Still unsure? Call a dermatologist to make an appointment to ask if you are a candidate for laser hair removal. Once you get the green light, you can hop on our site and order your favorite Tria Hair Removal Laser. See what dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal has to say about lasering over freckles!