Paradoxical hypertrichosis – When laser hair removal has the opposite effect

Paradoxical hypertrichosis is a side effect where hair growth increases instead of decreasing after laser treatment. This occurs when the laser stimulates the hair follicles instead of destroying them, and is often caused by:

• Incorrect choice of laser or settings – If the energy delivered is too low, the hair follicle will not heat up enough to destroy the growth cells. Instead, blood flow will be stimulated, which can cause the hair to become thicker and darker than before.

• Inexperienced practitioners – An experienced practitioner knows how different lasers work on different skin and hair types. Incorrect settings or the wrong choice of laser can make the treatment ineffective or worsen hair growth.

• Cheap or faulty machines – Many clinics advertise hair removal with "laser," but in reality use low-energy IPL (intense pulsed light) or cheap laser imitations from China, among other places. These are not powerful enough to provide permanent hair reduction and can instead lead to paradoxical hypertrichosis.

• Home lasers – We are seeing an increasing number of customers who have used home lasers in the hope of removing hair themselves. These machines are not powerful enough to achieve permanent hair reduction, but they are powerful enough to irritate the hair follicles and stimulate new hair growth.

We are seeing more and more customers receiving poor service

We regularly see customers who have experienced increased hair growth after treatments at unprofessional clinics or through the use of home lasers. Many of these customers have experienced thicker, darker, and more widespread hair, especially in areas such as the face, neck, and arms. This happens because the practitioner has used the wrong type of laser, incorrect settings, or a machine that is simply not suitable for professional hair removal.

How lasers work for permanent hair removal

Laser hair removal works by sending a concentrated laser beam into the hair follicle. The beam is absorbed by the melanin (pigment) in the hair, which generates heat and destroys the hair follicle's ability to produce new hair. The hair must be in the growth phase (anagen phase) for the laser to be effective, and therefore several treatments are required to achieve the desired result.

TBL Medical only uses medical lasers that have been developed for safe and effective permanent hair removal. All our nurses have extensive experience and are trained in the use of lasers. We have a total of seven different lasers for hair removal, allowing us to tailor the treatment to your skin and hair type for the best possible results.

The different types of lasers used for hair removal

For optimal hair removal , powerful medical lasers that can be customized to individual needs are required. At TBL Medical, we use:

• Alexandrite laser – Particularly effective on light skin with dark hair.
• Diode laser – A gentle laser with good results on different skin types.
• Nd:YAG laser – Ideal for darker skin types, as it penetrates deeper without damaging the skin surface.

We have several lasers for hair removaland can treat all skin and hair types safely and effectively.

The dangers of cheap lasers and Chinese copies

Genuine medical hair removal lasers cost well over a million kroner, but there are many cheap imitations from China that are marketed as "hair removal lasers." These often have weak effects, give poor results, and can cause burns or paradoxical hypertrichosis.

Many cheap clinics also use IPL (intense pulsed light) instead of real lasers. IPL is not a laser, but a light pulse that is not as effective for hair removal. Clinics that offer hair removal at extremely low prices often use such machines, which means that you risk spending money on treatments that do not work.

Be aware of these warning signs when choosing a clinic:

❌ Extremely low prices – Often indicates the use of cheap or ineffective machines.
❌ No medical specialists – Practitioners without a medical background can make mistakes that lead to burns or poor results.
❌ Unknown lasers – Reputable clinics have good, well-known lasers and often several types of lasers in order to tailor the treatment to the customer.

Is laser hair removal safe?

Yes, laser hair removal is safe – when performed correctly. Potential side effects include temporary redness, swelling, or pigmentation changes, but these are rare if the treatment is performed by a licensed healthcare professional with the proper equipment.

To avoid risks, you should choose a clinic that:
✔ Has authorized nurses or doctors with extensive experience performing the treatment.
✔ Uses medical lasers, not cheap lasers that can have the opposite effect.
✔ Tailors the treatment to your skin and hair type.
✔ Has several types of lasers for optimal effect.

Here are some tips you can follow before deciding to start treatment

Fortunately, there are several good and reputable clinics in Bergen that have both experience and good lasers, so you have many to choose from.

Here are some points that are important to clarify before choosing your clinic

✔ Well-known lasers - Ask the clinic what lasers they have and do your research on the lasers in question.
✔ Authorized healthcare professionals - Make sure the treatment is performed by a nurse or doctor
✔ Experience - Make sure your nurse or doctor has relevant training and experience in the use of lasers. Choose a clinic with extensive experience.
✔ Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority - Ask whether the laser is registered with the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority.
✔ Responsible physician - Make sure that the clinic has a responsible physician who has experience in using lasers.

Conclusion – Choose a clinic that offers laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is an effective and safe solution for unwanted hair growth, but incorrectly performed treatment can lead to increased hair growth, burns, and poor results. At TBL Medical, we use the most advanced medical lasers on the market, and our nurses have extensive experience with hair removal, having been in the industry for 14 years.

Fortunately, there are many good clinics to choose from in Bergen, but unfortunately we are seeing more and more unscrupulous operators in the industry who put profit before the end result and customer safety.