What happens if you do laser hair removal too often?

Author: Corine Stracke  |  Last update: Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Overdoing laser hair removal can result in skin irritation, redness, and swelling. This can happen if the skin is exposed to too much laser energy, causing damage to the surrounding skin tissue. The skin can become sensitive, making it more prone to burns and hyperpigmentation.

How often is too often for laser hair removal?

Laser works best on areas with coarse hair. If you have treatments at appropriately spaced intervals of 8-12 weeks apart, you should need 6-8 treatments. Any finer hair will stay regardless. Some areas like legs have longer growth cycles so you need to wait longer in between treatments, closer to 12 weeks.

Can you overdo laser treatment?

A laser is a powerful tool which when used in excess can harm the skin's sensitive layers. When the device passes over skin too frequently, your skin is unable to heal promptly and will produce scarring.

What happens if you laser your hair every day?

Opting for safe laser hair removal means adhering to recommended treatment intervals. Daily laser treatments can significantly increase the risk of side effects, such as skin irritation, burns, and pigmentation changes. The skin needs time to recover between sessions.

What happens if you laser hair removal every week?

Not mention undergoing laser too frequently can lead to skin irritation, burns, or other complications.

Dr. Clevens | How long does laser hair removal last?

Can you overuse laser hair removal?

Not only by having too many session in a short period of time, but even by overlapping the same area during a single session. Overdoing laser hair removal can result in skin irritation, redness, and swelling. This can happen if the skin is exposed to too much laser energy, causing damage to the surrounding skin tissue.

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.

What happens if you use IPL too often?

IPL is most effective while your hair is in the growth phase –if you treat your skin multiple times a week, your hair can become dormant and IPL treatment won't work as well. Additionally, while IPL is a gentle treatment, too much of it can be a bad thing. If you use IPL too frequently, you may irritate your skin.

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.

What happens if you miss a month of laser hair removal?

When you have multiple breaks it means your growth cycles will catch up and will leave you with the illusion that more hair is growing back. However, the occasional missed appointment won't negate previous progress or significantly hinder your overall results.

Can laser cause excessive hair growth?

Yes, you read that right. It doesn't happen with everyone, but it does happen — even if you're the perfect candidate for laser hair removal. So, what causes this? It's called paradoxical hypertrichosis — and even the name sounds scary.

What happens if I wait too long between laser hair removal?

Treatment Efficacy

Conversely, waiting too long between treatments can also be counterproductive as it may allow the hair to enter the next growth cycle, reducing the overall effectiveness of the treatment.

Why can't you get wet after laser?

The heat and moisture from these environments can aggravate the treated skin, leading to increased irritation and redness. Stick to cool showers and avoid direct heat to allow your skin to heal properly.

What I wish I knew before laser hair removal?

I wish I knew this before laser hair removal
  • Preparation is crucial.
  • It's also important to skip plucking, waxing, or electrolysis.
  • Laser hair removal isn't a one-and-done solution.
  • Another often overlooked aspect is the potential for maintenance treatments.

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.

How many laser sessions do I need for Brazilian?

The fact- “No one fits all” is also true for the Brazilian treatments. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the thickness, growth and colour of the hair. So, the number of sessions one needs to undergo vary from person to person. Generally, 6-8 sessions are required to get your hair permanently removed.

What are the negatives of laser hair removal?

Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin.

Why do I look hairier after laser hair removal?

Hair Shedding – After a laser hair removal treatment, it's common for the treated hair to shed. This shedding process can take 10-14 days post treatment. And during this time, it may appear as though the hair is growing back thicker and darker. However, this is simply the hair follicle shedding the treated hair.

Can I laser my pubic hair?

Yes! A “manzilian” is what we typically call a male Brazilian laser hair removal. A manzilian thus removes hair in the genital area from the front to the back, which includes everything including, shaft, scrotum, intergluteal cleft, and everywhere else in between.

How often can I do laser at-home?

You may be wondering how often you should be using at-home IPL devices. This ultimately depends on how your body responds to the laser. Most commonly at-home IPL devices are used once a week. You will be able to monitor your results and decide over time if you should alter the frequency of treatments.

Can I do IPL 2 days in a row?

IPL hair removal is effective, safe, and convenient — when used correctly. While it's tempting to use your device every other day for faster results, overuse won't speed up hair removal and may cause side effects. For best results: Follow the recommended schedule (2–3 times per week initially).

Does IPL last longer than laser?

Results from laser treatments typically last longer than IPL treatments. Lasers require fewer and less frequent follow-up treatments than IPL. Lasers are able to treat more specific skin concerns than IPL.

Why is my hair still thick after laser?

Laser hair removal is a popular solution for getting rid of unwanted hair in the long term. However, some people may experience a phenomenon called“paradoxical regrowth“: instead of shrinking, hair grows back thicker and darker in certain areas.

What happens if I shave 3 days after laser?

After undergoing the treatment, hairs begin a shedding phase which can last between 10 to 14 days. It's crucial during this period to let the hairs naturally fall out. Shaving too early can risk complications like ingrown hairs and other skin irritations.

How many laser sessions before hair stops growing?

Generally, clients need about two to six laser treatments in order to completely get rid of hair. You can expect to see about a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after your first treatment. As you continue your treatments, more and more hair will fall out, and you'll notice that it continues to grow back more slowly.

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