What should practitioners consider when selecting laser settings?

When selecting laser settings for treatment, it is crucial to consider skin type and hair color due to the interaction between the laser light and the target tissue. Different skin types respond differently to laser treatments due to variations in melanin concentration. For instance, lighter skin tones generally absorb laser energy more effectively than darker skin tones, which can lead to a higher risk of thermal injury if the settings are incorrect.

Hair color is equally important since darker hair contains more melanin, making it more responsive to laser treatments. This allows for better absorption of the laser light, leading to more effective hair removal during the procedure. Selecting appropriate settings based on these factors ensures maximum efficacy and safety, reducing potential side effects such as burns or hyperpigmentation.

While factors like a patient's age, the season of the year, and hair thickness may play a role in treatment considerations, they are not as critical to determining the laser settings as skin type and hair color.