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Laser hair removal plume could contain high levels of toxins

Burning-hair plume during laser hair removal contained carcinogens and environmental toxins, and could be considered a biohazard, according to recently published study results in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers collected discarded terminal hairs from the axillae, back and arms of two adult volunteers at the laser center of a large academic hospital. The hairs were treated with a laser after being sealed in glass gas chromatography chambers, with two pulses delivered through the clear glass with either an 810-nm diode laser (Light-Sheer, Lumenis) or 755-nm alexandrite laser (Gentlelase, Candela).

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the laser plume. The researchers used two 6-L negative pressure canisters to capture 30 seconds of laser plume, then a portable condensation particle counter to measure ultrafine particulates (< 1 µm). They measured ultrafine particle concentrations within the treatment room, the waiting room and outside the building.

There were 377 chemical compounds identified through GC-MS analysis. Sixty-two compounds had a 90% confidence or above, exhibiting strong absorption peaks. Thirteen of the 62 chemicals were known or suspected carcinogens, while more than 20 were known environmental toxins, with a potential acute toxic effect on exposure.

“During LHR, the portable condensation particle counters documented an 8-fold increase compared with the ambient room baseline level of ultrafine particles concentrations (ambient room baseline, 15,300 particles per cubic centimeter [ppc]; LHR with smoke evacuator, 129,376 ppc), even when a smoke evacuator was in close proximity (5 cm) to the procedure site,” the researchers wrote.

There was a more than 26-fold increase in particulate count vs. ambient baseline levels (15,300 ppc) when the smoke evacuator was turned off for 30 seconds (435,888 ppc).

“With the smoke evacuator turned off for only 30 seconds during LHR, high levels of environmental toxins (including carbon monoxide) were detected,” the researchers wrote. “In the same period, a portable [condensation particle counter] captured more than a 26-fold increase in airway-irritating particulates.”

“Plume produced during LHR contains potentially hazardous organic compounds and [ultrafine particles] in quantities that may cause health problems ranging from airway irritations to cancers over time,” the researchers concluded. “Long-term cumulative effects of inhaling these potentially harmful chemicals and UFPs are unknown. We suggest that, at a minimum, an effective local exhaust system equipped with chemical extraction and particulate capture be used by practitioners who regularly perform LHR.”  – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.