Turned Away by a Clinic? Why It Happens and What to Ask Next

Getting that no is a strange thing. You have done your research, set your budget, endured a consultation, and then someone just sits at a computer and tells you there's nothing they can do. A lot of the time, no explanation is given other than our machine isn't good enough for your skin type.

It's disappointing, and it feels personal. But honestly, it generally is not. For most people it means that the clinic purchased a device that is permitted to use only on lighter skin and the honest ones are glad to tell you so, rather than subject you to the procedure. If you look for Laser Hair Removal For Dark Skin In Birmingham market after having been turned down, you are probably not seeking a different response.

What the refusal generally indicates

The wrong machine: This is by far the most common. Certain laser and IPL machines treat melanin at a wavelength that doesn't differentiate between the colour in your hair and the colour in your skin. Treatment that penetrates into the deeper, darker skin tones can cause burns, blisters, or pigment changes. Such a clinic is well within their rights to refuse treatment.

More In particular IPL: Intense pulsed light disperses the energy into numerous different wavelengths instead of a singular, specific wavelength. This means that it is Really less effective for darker skin tones and in some cases, many IPL facilities turn away Fitzpatrick IVand higher.

A cautious patch test: If the test zone failed then the clinic may refuse to alter rather than take the risk. Sometimes this is the proper course of action. Sometimes it simply means the practitioner is not confident in making of the required adjustments.

Correcting purposes not only for the technician: While sometimes the device is okay, the practitioner has not been trained on how to treat melanated skin with it. Less common, more difficult to spot, and good to get directly!

A real medical reason: We won't laser anyone with fresh sun and recent medication use, and people with active skin diseases because the skin needs to be in a good state. If an active condition is the cause, a good clinic will tell you so and advise you when to re book.

That makes all the difference. 'We can't treat you because of your skin type, ' and, 'we can't treat you because of X' are two different sentences. Ask, which one you were given.

Questions to ask the next clinical

Ask these before you book a consultation, not after.

What device do you use, and what is the wavelength?

You are looking for the precise name and number; not medical grade or state of the art. Wavelengths that go down to 1064nm (slightly longer wavelength) are typically used on darker skin because it penetrates through the melanin to deeper down in the skin.

Do you commonly treat Fitzpatrick type V and VI?

Commonly is the very key word. Ask approximately how typically.

Has the practitioner been in particular trained on darker skin tones with this machine?

Can upgrade training be available? The machine and the training are not the same.

How long is your patch test process?

It should be done a minimum of 48 hours before the treatment. With the darker skin tones, an argument can definitely be made for the wait being more important than the test.

What live settings would you give me at first, and how do you go about setting?

You don’t have to know technically the answer. You have to hear that there are thought-out, considered settings.

What if I end up with hyperpigmentation?

I'm pretty confident any clinic will have an answer. If they don't, that's a big red flag.

What a good answer sounds like

A dermatologist clinic suitable for your skin will give a straight yes to all 6 without much agitation. The device will be named, they will state they do these skin types routine, and they will likely give you the lowdown on the patch test before you can even ask.

Being truthful about boundaries can also be reassuring. Nice clinics should inform you that the settings on darker skin tones tend to be a little more conservative, which can mean a few extra treatments with a darker skin tone than a comparable area on a lighter skin tone. This isn't a marketing issue, it's a valid expectation, and it's positive to hear.

What not to do

Avoid requesting treatment at the same practice that turned you away in the first place. If they said using their gear is not feasible, they're simply being honest with you, and convincing them otherwise could endanger your skin.

Never make an appointment just because they said yes first. A clinic that accepts you without asking for your skin type, medication, or sun exposure is not necessarily a more welcoming clinic, it is a less careful one.

You also should not assume that laser is not an option. It is not. The means to safely remove darker skin tones has been available for years. Many practitioners have not just invested in it.

Frequently asked questions

Why did a clinic refuse to treat my skin tone?

The skin tone of darker skins are most likely to fire back on the machines protective target, which is the hair across the skin having to draw pigment from this targeted area and involves safe working limits for depth of skin lamp firing would be inappropriate- not in your make up, but (more often) on their machines. This is not to do with the clients skin type but the heating machine.

Is it still possible for dark skin to laser treatment?

Yes, providing we use the correct equipment. For stronger skin colouring, which calls for a longer wavelength laser of around 1064nm as it penetrates past surface melanin.

Is IPL too dangerous for dark skin? 

IPL has a wide spectrum (lot of wavelengths) rather than just one wavelength as is being very unsafe for deeper skin tones. Most clinics do not cater to Fitzpatrick IV and higher.

What do I need to know before booking somewhere else?

The device name and wavelength, the number of treatments per year for Fitzpatrick V and VI, the practitioner's training, the process for patch testing, and side effects that include pigmentation changes.

Will I require more treatments than someone with lighter skin?

Occasionally. Because the settings may be more conservative for darker skin tones, you may need several more treatments for the same area.

Do I need a second opinion if I was refused? 

Yes, from a clinic with a comparable device. If I was refused because of equipment, I was not refused because of me.