Did you know that over the course of a lifetime, the average woman spends 72 days shaving her legs? That’s about 1,728 hours! And although results from methods like waxing and epilating last a bit longer, it’s still a hassle needing to do it every few weeks. It’s no wonder women these days are considering permanent methods like laser hair removal to save more time in the long run.
But just like with any other medical procedure, you may be wondering whether it causes side effects. For some people considering permanent hair removal, it’s perhaps their biggest concern.
If that sounds like you don’t worry!
We’ll walk you through the side effects of laser hair removal, how it’s generally safe, and ways to lower the risk of experiencing side effects.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
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If you haven’t already done your research, laser treatment for hair removal involves using a concentrated beam of laser light to get rid of unwanted body hair. Over the course of treatment, the laser emits a strong pulse of light that absorbs the melanin in your skin.
The light energy converts to heat resulting in damaging the hair follicles responsible for creating hairs and inhibiting future growth. However, this process is only effective so long as the hair is in the anagen (growth) stage. And it doesn’t guarantee permanent hair removal but rather slows down regrowth. Because only about 20 percent of your hair is in the growth phase at a time, it’s impossible to remove all the hair in a treatment area during one session. That’s why you need to book multiple sessions three weeks apart.
Research Shows That Laser Hair Removal is Generally Safe
Before we get into the nitty gritty of different side effects, it’s important to understand that the laser hair removal process is fairly safe. Not only does it remove unwanted hair, but it prevents future hair growth without affecting skin texture or skin color.
According to one review, the overall incidence of adverse effects is low with permanent conditions being even less common. The two biggest studies cited in the review show that acute and transient side effects can occur but didn’t show any scarring or long-term effects.
In another study, laser hair removal showed a low incidence of side effects that subsided in most cases. Higher side effects were reported by patients with darker skin tones, who were treated using a long-pulsed ruby laser.
How Much Does It Hurt?
If you’re expecting pain as a side effect, rest assured that laser hair removal devices don’t cause any pain. Though you experience some discomfort, it’s a lot less than some people expect. Because the process involves targeting the hair follicles with a strong laser, many people expect to feel a burning sensation.
That’s not the case. Instead, people who’ve gone through the procedure say that it’s like having a rubber band snapped against your skin. Plus, the process hurts less as you get more sessions. As your hair becomes lighter and the amount of growth reduces, you’ll experience less discomfort.
But if you wait too long between sessions you’ll find your skin feeling more sensitive. So, if you’re worried about pain and discomfort just stick to getting regular sessions from a licensed professional and you’ll be fine.
Common Side Effects
Now that we’ve gone over the basics like how it works and what studies show, here’s a look at its common side effects. You can expect a few different side effects and though most of them are temporary, you should consult your dermatologist if they persist.
Irritation and Redness
It’s quite common to experience irritation and redness after your first laser hair removal session. The procedure works by damaging the hair follicles and disrupting hair growth. If you’ve never gotten it done before, your body reacts to the new stimulus resulting in redness and irritation across treatment areas.
But you don’t need to worry since symptoms usually subside in a few hours and your skin will look like it has just been plucked or waxed. Some clinics apply a topical anesthetic to keep the skin from reacting too much to the laser. You can also use an ice pack or take a cold bath to help with irritation.
Changes in Pigmentation
Another minor side effect that most people report experiencing is changes in pigmentation in and around the treatment area. For instance, if you get laser hair removal for your arms, you may notice light or dark spots depending on your skin tone.
If you have lighter skin, you’re likely to experience darker pigmentation. On the other hand, having a darker skin tone can lead to lighter pigmentation. Rest assured that these changes fade away after a while and your skin will go back to normal.
Mild Swelling
Due to the irritation, your skin may feel tender or start to tingle which can contribute to swelling. Formally known as perifollicular edema, it’s referred to as temporary swelling of your hair follicles. It’s the body’s natural response to the heat that’s applied to the hair follicles during laser hair removal sessions.
Applying a cool compress to the skin can reduce inflammation and curb swelling. As part of your body’s defense mechanisms, the area swells slightly.
Crusting
In some cases, people experience crusting on and around the affected area. Although it’s usually a minor side effect, it can be inconvenient. Crusting can also lead to scarring or scabbing without proper care. Your dermatologist may recommend aftercare for the treated area such as using a moisturizer to prevent lasting symptoms.
Eye Injury
During laser hair removal, your dermatologist uses a high-powered laser to disrupt hair follicles. This can increase the risk of eye injury particularly when treating the face. To reduce the risk of eye injury, it’s recommended that both the patient and the practitioner wear protective eye equipment during the procedure.
Rare Side Effects
Besides the above-mentioned side effects that are mild and common, less-common ones have also been reported. These are likely to occur when the procedure is done incorrectly and include:
Blistering
When done using faulty equipment or by an untrained practitioner, there’s a risk of experiencing burns and blisters. This happens due to the heat from the high-pulse lasers. It’s much rarer when you see a licensed and experienced dermatologist.
Most reputable clinics use a cooling machine to alleviate the pain and discomfort that occurs during laser hair removal. It reduces the risk of burning the skin even further.
Scars
Scars aren’t a usual side effect of laser hair removal but they can occur if your practitioner makes an error during the procedure. If you’re seeing an experienced dermatologist or laser technician, like at Donna Bella Laser MedSpa, you won’t have to worry about this.
Just remember that scars can also form if you don’t take proper care of your skin after sessions. Dermatologists recommend that you treat the area as though it’s been sunburned to prevent long-term effects. It’s best that you stay out of the sun, moisturize your skin, and avoid picking at scabs if they form.
Infections
Although laser hair removal is a clinical procedure performed by a licensed practitioner, remember that your skin reacts in a similar way to other hair removal methods. This means your skin is particularly sensitive after a laser hair removal session so you’ll need to treat the area carefully.
If you experience signs of infection, report them to your dermatologist immediately instead of using over-the-counter medications or topical ointments.
Increased Hair Growth
Although few people have experienced this rare side effect, it has caused numerous people to grow wary of laser hair removal. Formally known as paradoxical hypertrichosis, it’s more likely to occur among people with darker skin tones and conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
However, that doesn’t seem to be the cause and researchers have yet to find out why this side effect occurs. Some practitioners hypothesize that it happens because of factors like hormonal changes or incorrect laser settings.
Reducing the Risk of Side Effects
As mentioned earlier, the risk of experiencing side effects increases when you don’t follow proper pre-care and aftercare instructions. Similarly, seeing an unlicensed professional can lead to a higher risk of errors and using inadequate tools which lead to side effects. So, it’s worth taking a look at things you can do to reduce the likelihood of experiencing adverse reactions.
See a Licensed Professional
Your practitioner’s credentials can have a major impact on the quality of your results and the likelihood of experiencing adverse reactions. Not just because they use better equipment but because they have the knowledge to help you take care of your skin before and after sessions.
Of course, the technology they use plays a major role as well. So it’s great to ask about your practitioner’s credentials and what technology they use. Outdated or unmaintained equipment could increase the risk of burns and/or scarring.
Avoid Sunbathing and Tanning Beds
An important pre-care and aftercare instruction is to avoid sunbathing and sunless tanners. Sunbathing can increase the level of melanin in the skin. So if you show up for a laser hair removal session with a tan, it can affect the laser’s ability to detect hair follicles. Not to mention, your skin will be sensitive so the laser could contribute to further irritation.
Wear Sun Protection
You should also avoid casual sun exposure before and after laser hair removal treatments. Besides wearing long-sleeved shirts and long-legged pants, you shouldn’t skip on appropriate sun protection. After a laser hair removal session, your skin is much more sensitive to UV rays.
That means going out in the sun without adequate protection can increase your risk of skin damage. Factors like sun exposure when combined with increased skin sensitivity can lead to burns, hyperpigmentation and even scarring.
Don’t Tweeze or Wax Hair
Laser hair removallaser hair removal sessions
Getting Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant
For women considering laser hair removal, a common concern is whether they’ll need to hit pause on treatment sessions when they’re pregnant. Most practitioners recommend waiting until you’ve had your baby to start laser hair removal or continue sessions. That’s because, despite the procedure’s safety, there’s a lack of research on how it can potentially affect the fetus.
If you’re currently pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you may feel the need for permanent hair removal to address excessive hair growth. During pregnancy, you usually experience increased on the abdomen and breasts.
In most cases, this excess hair falls out on its own. so you can simply wait until after the pregnancy has ended. In the meantime, it’s best that you stick to regular hair removal methods like shaving.
Common Myths Surrounding Laser Hair Removal
Have you ever heard of other ‘dangerous side effects’ of laser hair removal? Perhaps you read somewhere that it could affect fertility or that it causes cancer. Let’s take a look at these myths and why they’re not true.
It Causes Cancer
Does laser hair removal cause cancer? If you’ve been avoiding laser hair removal due to worries that cancer is a dangerous side effect, rest assured that it’s just a myth. On the contrary, the Skin Cancer Foundation reports that laser technology is sometimes used to target forms of precancerous lesions.
Keep in mind that ‘laser’ is an umbrella term for various technologies. So different wavelengths of lasers are used to treat wrinkles and sun damage. Meanwhile, the technology used for hair removal purposes emits little radiation, doesn’t contain UV light and is applied to the skin’s surface as opposed to deeper layers. This prevents it from harming the genetic material in your cells.
It Causes Infertility
Another question that some people ask is if laser hair removal can cause infertility. This is another myth since the laser only targets the skin’s surface. Moreover, the minimal radiation from the procedure can’t impact your organs. Nevertheless, you should still talk to your doctor about potential risks if you plan on having a baby.
It’s Only Suitable for Lighter Skin Tones with Dark Hair
Another myth surrounding laser hair removal is that it’s only effective for lighter skin tones with dark hair. That’s because it provides a clear contrast between the skin and hair. Although it’s true that the ideal candidate for laser therapy is someone with dark, coarse hair and light skin, recent advancements in technology accommodate darker skin tones as well.
So as long as you go to a professional with the right technology and experience, you’ll get great results. At, our practitioners use two different kinds of laser technologies depending on the client’s skin tone and hair color.
Choosing A Trusted Laser Hair Removal Clinic For Great Results
One of the best ways to avoid experiencing adverse reactions is to see a qualified professional for laser hair removal. But how do you know which clinic to choose? Here are some of the questions to ask:
Are They Qualified?
For starters, you’ll want to know about their credentials.
- Are they licensed to provide laser hair removal services in the state?
- Is the clinic registered?
- Are the technicians trained to use the equipment and tools used for the procedure?
Remember to ask about their training, certification, and professional licenses as well. It’s also a good idea to see if the director is a licensed physician.
Are They Experienced?
While certification and licensing are certainly important, you have to see if they’re experienced enough to deliver quality results. It’s usually a good idea to visit a clinic that has a longstanding reputation and where the staff has years of experience. This ensures that they’re consistently improving their techniques and adapting to the latest technologies.
What Are Other Clients Saying?
Testimonials, reviews, and before/after pictures can give you a third-person account of the clinic’s quality and safety measures. It’s recommended that you check online reviews and see the before and after images provided to make an informed decision.
Do They Conduct Patch Tests?
It’s a must that the clinic offers a patch test before beginning laser treatment. You should be wary of clinics that get you to pay for sessions before performing a patch test. This is a crucial step in reducing the risk of side effects. It helps to check if you experience any adverse reactions to the laser and determine your suitability.
Get Safe and Effective Laser Hair Removal at Donna Bella Laser MedSpa
To sum it up, laser hair removal can cause a few minor side effects such as redness, irritation, swelling, changes in pigmentation, and crusting. Fortunately, with proper preparation and aftercare, these side effects subside within a few hours.
Although there are certain long-term side effects such as increased hair growth and burns, these are rare. Plus, they have a higher risk of occurring due to a lack of aftercare and seeing an inexperienced practitioner.
To avoid experiencing long-term side effects, it’s recommended that you consult a licensed practitioner with years of experience. At, director Jiyon Hwang M.D. has years of experience in delivering quality care.
Get in touch with our team today to book a consultation and say goodbye to the hassles of shaving and waxing unwanted hair!
Citations
- Krupnick, E. (2013, April 12). Average time spent shaving legs in a lifetime? 72 days, new survey says. HuffPost. https://huffpost.com/entry/average-time-spent-shaving-legs_n_3063127
- Lim, S. P. R., & Lanigan, S. W. (2006). A review of the adverse effects of laser hair removal. Lasers in Medical Science, 21(3), 121–125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0377-y
- Lanigan, S. W. (2003). Incidence of side effects after laser hair removal. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 49(5), 882–886. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0190-9622(03)02106-6
- Diaz, A. (2024, March 25). Laser-hair removal side effects explained: Can it really cause these issues? New York Post. https://nypost.com/2024/03/25/lifestyle/laser-hair-removal-side-effects-explained-can-it-really-cause-these-issues/
- The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2020, December 2). Ask the Expert: Can Laser Treatment for Sun Damaged Skin Cause Skin Cancer? https://skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-can-laser-treatment-for-sun-damaged-skin-cause-skin-cancer/
JIYON HWANG
Dr. Jiyon Hwang-Ki is a board-certified Internal Medicine specialist with over 23 years of experience. Based in Rockville, Maryland, she offers comprehensive primary care and specializes in medical spa treatments. Fluent in English, Korean, and Spanish, Dr. Hwang-Ki is dedicated to patient-centered care and embraces modern healthcare solutions, including telehealth appointments.
