Ask the expert: Laser treatment burnt me

I’ve had four sessions of laser hair removal over the past six months. But after the last two, my skin got burnt, leaving me with dark and light patches. I’m scared to continue the sessions. Your advice? 

One or a combination of these factors could cause this – the wrong laser machine, unsuitable for your skin type and character of hair; wrong settings and pulse duration; dysfunctional cooling in the machine; poor staff training, lack of experience or absence of quality assurance protocols. I advise you stop for two or three months.

Your problem doesn’t need any active treatment right now, as in the majority of such cases, skin colour improves on its own with time. The best option is to apply a suitable moisturiser twice a day. If the dark patches remain even after two or three months, then an appropriate pigment-reduction treatment can be prescribed. However the areas of hypopigmentation will have to be left for a natural course of recovery. Also avoid prolonged and direct exposure to the sun.