Will Insurance Cover Laser Hair Removal for Hidradenitis?

Hidradenitis is a chronic skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It causes painful, inflamed bumps in areas with high sweat glands, such as the armpits, groin, and under the breasts.

Laser hair removal is a common treatment for hidradenitis, but it's not always covered by insurance. In fact, most insurance plans consider laser hair removal a cosmetic procedure.

However, some insurance plans may cover laser hair removal for hidradenitis if it's deemed medically necessary. This is often the case if the condition is severe and laser hair removal is the only effective treatment option.

The key is to check with your insurance provider to see what's covered under your plan.

Hidradenitis is a skin condition characterized by painful, inflamed bumps in the armpits, groin, and other areas where skin folds together.

It's caused by a blockage in the apocrine glands, which are responsible for producing sweat in these areas.

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This blockage leads to the formation of painful bumps, known as abscesses, which can rupture and cause further inflammation.

The condition can be painful and uncomfortable, making everyday activities challenging.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include redness, swelling, and a foul odor.

In severe cases, hidradenitis can lead to scarring and disfigurement.

Laser hair removal for HS has shown remarkable results in treating the condition. Peer-reviewed medical studies have demonstrated a 32% improvement two months after the second treatment and an incredible 72.7% improvement during the four months post-treatment.

The GentleMax Pro True Laser Class IV is a popular choice for laser hair removal, combining the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser and a 755 nm Alexandrite laser. This combination has been used to treat patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa of varying severities.

Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle roots with a beam of intense light, producing heat that causes permanent damage to the follicle and may stop hair growth. This process can also reduce the number of HS flare-ups by reducing the amount of follicles, sebaceous glands, and bacteria in the affected areas.

Laser therapies may provide an alternative when other treatment options do not prove helpful. They can be an effective treatment option for HS, especially when combined with other treatments.

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Laser hair removal is a treatment option for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) that can be an effective alternative to other treatments.

Laser therapies most commonly use the following lasers to treat HS: Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, Nd:YAG laser, and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.

The CO2 laser emits a powerful beam of light that vaporizes and destroys affected tissue, producing long-term remissions in patients with Hurley stage 2 and Hurley stage 3 disease.

Nd:YAG laser penetrates more deeply into the skin than other lasers, targeting the hair and follicle, and seems to work best for HS, especially in areas of the skin with dark and thick hair.

IPL therapy uses beams of different wavelengths to target the hair and follicles.

Other lasers in use to treat HS are alexandrite and diode lasers.

Here are the most common lasers used to treat HS: