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Rethinking Laser On Darker Skin Tones.

black guy saluting with a chest tattoo wearing a baseball cap in dark lighting

Common Advice: "Use lower energy settings on darker skin with lasers."


What the Science Actually Says:


This common guideline might be counterproductive.



Why Skin Tone Matters: Melanin is Key


  • Skin colour comes from melanin pigment.

  • In lighter skin, melanin is mostly deeper down (basal layer).

  • In darker skin, melanin is more concentrated and spread throughout the upper layer (epidermis).


Melanin = Light Sponge


  • Melanin absorbs most visible light and near-infrared light very well (especially bluer light).

  • So, any light energy aimed at the skin hits this melanin "filter" first.



The Filter Effect: Darker Skin Absorbs More Light Up Front


  1. Lighter Skin (ST1): Less melanin = a thinner, weaker filter. More light energy passes through to the deeper skin (dermis).


  2. Darker Skin (ST6): More melanin = a thicker, stronger filter. Significantly more light energy gets absorbed right at the surface. Less energy reaches the deeper skin.



Two Big Problems from Using Standard Energy:


  1. Overheating: The surface layer (epidermis) in darker skin gets much hotter with the same energy setting, raising the risk of burns or damage.


  2. Under-Treatment: Less energy actually reaches the target in the dermis (like hair roots, blood vessels, or tattoo ink), making the treatment less effective.



The Solution Isn't Lowering Energy (Usually):


  • Problem 1 (Overheating): Can be managed with stronger cooling before the pulse.

  • Problem 2 (Under-Treatment): This is the bigger issue. To get enough energy to the target in darker skin, you actually need to increase the energy setting compared to lighter skin. Otherwise, the treatment simply won't work as well.



The Catch: More Energy Needs More Cooling


  • Increasing the energy setting makes the surface heat up even more.


  • So, significantly stronger pre-cooling is essential when using higher energy on darker skin to prevent injury.



Important Limits:


  • There's a point where skin is so dark (melanin-rich) that even maximum cooling might not be enough to safely use the high energy needed. Extreme caution is required.



Conclusion: Flip the Script (Usually)


  • Science shows that automatically reducing energy for darker skin often leads to poor results because too little energy reaches the target.


  • For effective treatment on darker skin (within safe limits):



    • Energy Setting: Often needs to be INCREASED to overcome the light-absorbing "melanin filter."

    • Cooling: Must be SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED to protect the surface from the extra heat generated by that higher energy.


  • The Exception: Treatments using 1064 nm wavelength lasers (Nd:YAG) are different. This specific light penetrates melanin much better, making the above adjustments less critical or different.


This approach, backed by how light interacts with melanin, aims for safer and more effective outcomes on diverse skin tones.

 
 
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