Ask the expert: will laser hair removal suit keloid patients?

My daughter has keloids – growth of extra scar tissue where the skin has healed after an injury – but also very hairy legs. She is keen to try laser hair removal treatment. Will this affect her keloid condition?

Your daughter’s problem with excessive body hair and her predisposition to keloids are two separate issues. Excessive body hair growth in females could be genetic or triggered by an underlying hormonal disorder. Most commonly, this is seen in cases of polycystic ovary syndrome, where excessive body hair growth is seen together with a tendency to gain weight, menstrual irregularities, insulin resistance as well as a relatively higher incidence of infertility.

There is almost zero risk of your daughter developing keloids after laser hair removal unless she gets unusually severe skin burns during the procedure. This is a possibility if the laser treatment is carried out by a poorly skilled technician.

In most cases, a significant reduction in hair growth is achieved through effective laser hair removal treatment. The number of treatment sessions would depend on many factors, including the thickness of the hair and type of laser used.

In cases connected to underlying hormonal disorders, a simultaneous medical treatment of the problem is essential to achieve the desired results.