How long should I avoid water after laser?

Author: Mr. Ulices Trantow Sr.  |  Last update: Saturday, December 13, 2025

We generally recommend avoiding swimming for 48-72 hours following laser hair removal sessions because this allows time for: Follicles to seal up and close, preventing infection risk. Any pinpoint bleeding or blistering to fully resolve. Redness and swelling to subside.

How long to avoid water after laser hair removal?

Don't: Swim for 24-48 Hours After Laser Hair Removal

Water activities, like swimming in the ocean or a pool, are a fun part of summer that you wouldn't want to miss out on. Just make sure you wait 24-48 hours after your laser treatment.

What happens if you get wet after laser?

As a rule of thumb, the colder your shower after LHR, the better. Hot water causes your blood to rise to the skin's surface which can cause swelling and irritation and reduce the efficacy of LHR. Keeping your first few showers after the procedure to a cool temperature will help your skin.

How long should you wait to shower after laser?

It's best to wait 24 hours but at least 6-8 hours before showering to allow your skin to recover from the treatment.

Can you go in water after laser?

Avoid swimming after laser

While it might be tempting to cool off in the ocean or pool, we recommend no swimming for 24-48 hours after laser hair removal. Your skin will be more sensitive than usual so it's best to avoid any bacteria or chemicals that might be in the water.

Fractional Laser Treatment Aftercare Do's and Don'ts & Recommended Skincare Ingredients

How long after laser can I go to the beach?

Temporary swelling, sensitivity, and redness in the treated region are possible side effects of laser hair removal. It's advised to hold off on exposing your skin to the beach environment until these negative effects go away. Normal recovery times for the skin range from a few days to a week. 4.

What happens when a laser hits water?

The lasers will reflect off the glass, and also the surface of the water, which behave like mirrors. Also interesting is that some of the beam reflects back and some does not, so the path of the laser light is split, so with multiple reflections interesting patterns can be made from just one laser beam.

What are the do's and don'ts after laser hair removal?

Avoid hot baths and hot showers for 48 hours. Avoid anything that involves chlorine (e.g. swimming) for 48 hours. Avoid make-up on the treated area for at least 48 hours. Avoid the application of perfumed products or bleaching creams for 48 hours.

How long after laser can I wash my face?

After that, you just have to wait until the next morning (at least 12 hours after) to wash your face.

What happens if you don't exfoliate after laser hair removal?

It also happens when treated hairs are shedding and if you don't exfoliate regularly enough these hairs will tend to get trapped in the skin. If you are prone to ingrown hairs you will normally see bumps appear about a week after a laser hair removal session these are nothing to worry about.

What is the fastest way to heal skin after laser treatment?

Use cold compresses: Applying cold compresses during the first 24 to 48 hours after your treatment can help reduce swelling and discomfort. Stay cool: Avoid hot showers, saunas, and strenuous exercise for the first few days after treatment. Heat can increase inflammation and slow healing.

Will I regret laser hair removal?

While laser hair removal significantly reduces hair growth, it doesn't always eliminate it completely, and some may still require occasional touch-ups. Skin reactions can also play a role in feelings of regret, although this is rare when the procedure is done correctly.

Can I shave 2 hours before laser hair removal?

You should not wax or tweeze or do anything that pulls the hair from the root for at least 6 weeks before your laser hair removal appointment. Ideally, you should shave 12 hours before coming to your hair removal appointment.

Can I swim 2 days after laser hair removal?

We generally recommend avoiding swimming for 48-72 hours following laser hair removal sessions because this allows time for: Follicles to seal up and close, preventing infection risk. Any pinpoint bleeding or blistering to fully resolve.

How to speed up shedding after laser hair removal?

The best way to help speed up shedding after your laser hair removal treatment is by gentle exfoliation once or twice a week once you start to see signs of your hair starting to shed.

Can I wet my body after laser?

Ideally 24 hours, but if you must shower wait at least 6-8 hours after your session. Use tepid water and avoid using any harsh products, scrubs, exfoliating mitts, loofahs or sponges on your treatment area. Use an unscented body wash and pat dry your treatment area with a towel to avoid damaging the skin.

How long should I avoid water after laser hair removal?

Avoid exposing the skin to hot water, including steam rooms and saunas, for at least 48 hours following laser hair removal. Heat can dry out, burn, and generally aggravate healing skin. This can slow the recovery process. Also, avoid swimming in cold chlorinated pools as the chemicals can irritate the treatment area.

What is the downside of a CO2 laser?

Disadvantages of CO2 Resurfacing

Like dermabrasion, this type of laser resurfacing requires a good deal of recovery time. The patient's skin will be weepy for two weeks and will require thorough cleaning four to five times daily, along with application of ointment to keep the skin from scabbing.

How soon after laser can I shower?

It's recommended to wait at least 6-8 hours after a laser hair removal session before taking a shower; which should be cold or very mild. This gives the skin time to cool down and for any redness or swelling to subside.

Why is my hair growing back 2 days after laser?

This is a sign that the laser successfully treated the follicle, and it's clearing out the dead hair shaft. This shedding process, also called “peppering,” can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. In some cases, it may feel like the hair is growing back because it's breaking through the skin.

How to train in laser hair removal?

THE QUALIFICATION

In studying the VTCT Level 4 Certificate in Laser and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) you will have an advanced qualification that has been specially designed for beauty therapists or medical specialists who would like to become a qualified laser aesthetic technician.

What are the restrictions after laser?

Take a break from intense workouts for a few days and stick to gentle activities like walking until your skin has healed. Direct Sunlight: Avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight for 4-6 weeks after treatment. UV rays can cause hyperpigmentation, slow healing, and increase the risk of scarring.

What happens if I wash after laser?

When you take a hot shower, the blood flow to the surface of your skin increases, this can cause swelling and irritation to the treatment area, which can impact the effectiveness of your laser hair removal.

Does water stop lasers?

A beam of laser light can be trapped inside a stream of water by suffering total internal reflection—the aquatic equivalent of a fiber optic cable.

Can laser levels get wet?

Many laser levels however CAN handle being left out in the normal showers and rain (IPX5 and higher). However, it's important that the laser levels are dried off before being stored away in their carry cases. The problem is that being wet in an air tight environment it will get very humid.

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