Options for Hair Removal for Diabetics

Hair removal for diabetics is a bit more complicated because sensitive skin and damaged nerve endings are more prone to injury and infection. Depending on the severity of the disease, people with diabetes need to be more careful with the hair removal method they choose.

Laser Hair Removal for Diabetics

During the initial assessment for laser hair removal, clients are asked to fill out a questionnaire about their health status and medication prescriptions. Since the laser for hair removal can potentially cause injury to the skin, clinicians need to know about any medical conditions before the start of treatment.

For diabetics, negative side-effects of laser treatment include:

• More pain due to sensitive nerves & tissue.
• Easier to burn and blister due to damage nerve endings.
• More susceptible to infections due to the slower healing response.
• Less effective hair removal since lower blood flow to the surface of the skin may require lower settings on the laser.

Before starting treatment, clinics usually ask a diabetic patient for a doctor's note that states the general health and condition of his or her skin. If severe neuropathy is present (neuropathy is the complicated condition where nerve endings throughout the body are damaged), the operator can then tailor the laser parameters and procedures to account for numbness and susceptibility to pain.

Because a slight degree of pain is needed to help the clinician to set laser parameters, a diabetic whose skin is too sensitive may result in insufficient settings and unsatisfactory results. Even worse, sensitive skin may be easily damaged resulting in a painful burn and permanent scaring.

Because signs of diabetic neuropathy can occur at anywhere on the body, some areas may be more vulnerable than others. Have your doctor examine and make any recommendations before starting laser hair treatment. Seek medical advice before using the Tria laser at home.

In addition, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the prescribed medications that you may be taking. Some photosensitive pharmaceuticals may cause dangerous reactions when exposed to laser light.

People with diabetes are more prone to dry skin and skin problems, and so great skin care is a must. Laser hair treatment should not be done on open or reoccurring skin sores. The laser light energy will not be directed to the hair follicle but instead to the exposed flesh.

Hair Epilators for Diabetics

Because hair epilation involves the extraction of the entire hair shaft and root, the empty swollen hair follicle may be more susceptible to infection. Sanitizing epilator heads and tweezers with rubbing alcohol before use will help to reduce the chance of infection.

In some diabetic patients, the blood flow near the surface of the skin may not be sufficient for the body's immune system to fend off bacteria within the vulnerable wounds. Talk to your physician to find out where on your body hair epilation or plucking can be performed.

Hair Removal Creams and People with Diabetes

People with diabetes may have skin that's too sensitive for the harsh chemicals of depilatory creams. And to complicate matters, neuropathy may only affect certain parts of the body, making it hard to use the lotion without affecting some of the sensitive areas.

Hair removal for diabetics is a bit more complex and suffers should always consult with their physician before experimenting with different products and methods.