Lasers and Intense Pulsed Light sources (IPLs) devices used for cosmetic purposes can cause serious health effects such as burns, scarring and eye damage.
Advisories
Published 25 February 2019
The following advisory note provides advice relating to the cosmetic and beauty therapy industry:
Additional advice is also provided for consumers and treatment providers:
- Advice for consumers: Lasers, IPL devices and LED phototherapy for cosmetic treatments and beauty therapy
- Advice for providers: Lasers, IPL devices and LED phototherapy for cosmetic treatments and beauty therapy
Introduction
- removing hair, tattoos, birthmarks, various skin lesions, acne and acne scarring
- reducing the visibility of blood vessels and skin pigmentations
- rejuvenating the skin
- reducing the appearance of fat and cellulite.
How do they work?
Lasers
Lasers work by producing a beam of light that is monochromatic (has a single wavelength). The beam of light produced can be focused on the specific area being treated. The laser beam selectively damages specific targets in the area being treated (e.g. capillaries, brown spots or tattoo pigment in the skin) allowing them to be removed altogether or the area to be replaced by new cells—depending on the desired treatment.
Lasers are classified according to the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS IEC 60825.1:2011 Safety of laser products Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements. Lasers used for cosmetic purposes are typically Class 3B and Class 4 which means that measures must be taken to control the associated hazard and ensure they are used safely.
Intense Pulsed Light Sources (IPLs)
As the name suggests, IPLs work by producing intense pulsed light. White light produced by the machine is filtered and manipulated to make its effects more specific. The light is, however, not as targeted and specific as with lasers. Consequently, IPLs produce more generalised effects on the skin, such as improvement in some forms of brown and red discolouration. When used for applications such as hair removal there is an unavoidable exposure to the skin of the intense light. Due to this reduced specificity and targeting capability, compared with lasers, it is sometimes impossible to produce only one effect on the skin. Additional effects produced by IPLs are either side-benefits or undesired side effects.
After effects
How you appear after a treatment will depend on the type of treatment performed, all of which should be explained to you beforehand. Some treatments (such as IPL for photo rejuvenation) may produce some mild, temporary redness, and darkening and then flaking-off of freckles. Others, such as laser treatments for some birthmarks, may produce intense bruising and swelling. Still others, such as treatments for acne scarring, may produce intense swelling and redness with perhaps pinpoint bleeding and oozing. If your experience is not as described to you prior to the procedure, you should contact the treatment facility and consult a medical practitioner.
Health risks
There are risks associated with the use of lasers and IPLs in cosmetic treatments. There have been reported cases where patients/clients have received an injury following a cosmetic procedure using a laser or IPL. Reported injuries have included burns, blistering, scarring, keloids (thickened, overgrown scars), increased or decreased skin pigmentation and eye damage (damage to the retina [back]or uvea [front] of the eye).
The causes of such injuries include:
- use of a laser/IPL by untrained service providers
- inappropriate use of a laser/IPL e.g. the wrong type of device/settings for a specific treatment or the wrong type of device is used on a specific skin type/hair colour
- contraindications/medications that may make skin more sensitive to light therapies not considered or not disclosed by the client/patient (including recent sun exposure)
- safety procedures are not followed (e.g. use of protective eyewear)
- equipment malfunction.
Before undergoing treatment, you should ask the service provider what kind of training and experience they have had. If your treatment is not being performed by a doctor, in some instances, it is recommended that you consider seeing a general practitioner or dermatologist before having IPL or laser treatment. You should seek medical advice if you:
- are pregnant
- are taking medication
- have pre-existing medical conditions, skin disorders (including acne) or allergies
- have any skin spots, moles or lesions in the area to be treated, whether or not these are the reason for the contemplated treatment.
Always ask the service provider who you should contact in the event of any concerns related to the treatment. This will usually be the doctor undertaking or prescribing/supervising your treatment if it is performed in a medical setting. However, if the treatment is being done in a beauty salon, there should be arrangements in place for you to be referred to a doctor familiar with the treatment you have received.
