Abstract

Objectives: Laser hair removal is a commonly used method in dermatology which is based on selective thermolysis and utilizes the appropriate wavelength, pulse width, and energy density to damage hair follicles. Given the prevalence of skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and vitiligo, and the increasing popularity of laser hair removal, the aim of this study was to investigate the safety of laser hair removal in individuals with skin diseases. Introduction: Laser hair removal is performed in both medical hospitals and clinics by caregivers with varying levels of medical and technical education and this also can have an effect on the safety of this practice where approximately 30% of all complications associated with laser therapy can be attributed to nonmedical personnel. While laser hair removal is generally a safe and effective method, its most common skin complications include folliculitis, post-treatment transient and reticulate erythema, perifollicular edema, ocular complications, pain, crusting, and purpura. Materials / method: This retrospective study was conducted at the laser department of Razi Hospital on 99 patients who underwent laser hair removal from nearly 7000 cases. The inclusion criteria were patients referred for laser therapy with a history of skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, vascular collagen, etc. The study also recorded information on patients who developed a specific skin disease after laser treatment, despite having no prior history of skin disease. To extract the data, all patient files were reviewed, and the patients were contacted to complete information. Results: The exacerbation of disease after laser therapy was significantly associated with active skin disease (p = .021) and laser treatment at the site of the disease (p < .001). The incidence of Koebner phenomenon was significantly associated with age (p = .017) and the number of sessions with the ND-YAG device (p = .034). The results indicated that the exacerbation of disease after laser therapy was not significantly associated with skin phototype, age, the number of sessions before complications, and the type of devices. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study and previous research, it is crucial to exercise caution when performing laser treatment on individuals with active skin disease and to avoid treating the affected area were possible. It is worth mentioning that skin darkening based on the Fitzpatrick criteria was not significantly associated with the occurrence of skin lesions after laser therapy. The occurrence of Koebner phenomenon after laser therapy was significantly associated with age and the number of ND-YAG device sessions. The use of the Alexandrite device for laser therapy carries a low risk.