Laser Hair Removal Aftercare Instructions

These are my pre-care and laser hair removal aftercare instructions. Following them carefully gives you the most effective, comfortable, and safe treatment and lowers the risk of side effects such as burns, blistering, or changes in skin color. Please read them before your first session and keep them handy between sessions. If anything is unclear, call the office before your appointment.

23+ YEARS EXPERIENCE | BOARD CERTIFIED MD | FORMER ASST. PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE | 5.0★ ACROSS 136 REVIEWS

About the Procedure

Laser hair removal uses focused light to target the pigment (melanin) in your hair follicles, heating and disabling them so hair grows back more slowly, more finely, and eventually much less. Because only actively growing hairs respond, several sessions — usually spaced about 4 to 6 weeks apart — are needed for the best result.

Before Your Treatment

Before your first session

Tell me if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a history of keloids or thick (hypertrophic) scars, have an active skin infection, rash, or open wound in the area, or have a history of cold sores (herpes) near the treatment site.
Report all medications and supplements, especially isotretinoin (for acne), antibiotics, medications that make you sensitive to light, and blood thinners.
Mention any history of easy pigment changes, cold sores, epilepsy or seizures, or prior reactions to laser treatments. If you get cold sores in the area to be treated, I may prescribe an antiviral medication to take beforehand.

Four weeks before

Stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds and self-tanning products for at least 3 to 4 weeks before your appointment. Tanned or recently sun-exposed skin has more pigment in the surface layers, which raises the risk of burns, blistering, and lasting changes in skin color.
Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) every day to the area to be treated when outdoors, and cover the skin with clothing when possible.
Do not wax, pluck, thread, or use epilators — or any method that pulls the hair out by the root — for at least 4 weeks before treatment. The laser needs an intact hair follicle with its root and pigment to work.
Shaving and trimming are fine and are the only hair removal methods you should use before and between sessions, because they leave the root in place.
If you develop a sunburn or a new tan in the treatment area, your session may need to be rescheduled.

One to two days before

Shave the treatment area about 24 to 48 hours before your appointment, unless I give you different instructions. This clears surface hair — so the laser energy goes to the follicle rather than burning hair on the skin — while leaving a tiny amount of stubble that helps us see the follicles.

The day of your treatment

Arrive with clean, dry skin. Do not apply lotions, deodorant, perfume, or makeup to the treatment area on the day of your appointment.
Expect a warm, snapping or stinging sensation with each pulse. A cooling device, cool air, or cool gel is often used to protect your skin and improve comfort, and a numbing cream may be offered for sensitive areas.
Protective eyewear will be provided — keep it on for the entire session.
Mild redness and slight swelling around the hair follicles (looking a bit like goosebumps) are normal and expected, and usually settle within hours to a day or two.

After Your Treatment

The treated skin may feel warm and look pink for a short time, like a mild sunburn. The steps below keep the area comfortable while it settles and lower the risk of dark or light spots forming as the skin recovers.

First 24 to 48 hours

Do

Cool the area if it feels hot or swollen

Apply a cool compress or an ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth for short periods if the area feels hot or swollen.

Keep the skin moisturized

Apply a gentle moisturizer, aloe vera gel, or a petrolatum-based emollient as recommended to keep the area comfortable and hydrated until it has settled.

Use any prescribed cream exactly as directed

If I prescribe a topical medication (for example, a mild steroid cream for redness and swelling), use it exactly as directed.

Wear loose, soft clothing over the area

Wear loose, soft clothing over the treated area to reduce friction and irritation.

From 24 hours on, wash gently with mild soap and lukewarm water

Starting about 24 hours after treatment, wash the area gently with mild soap and lukewarm water. Do not use a washcloth, loofah, or scrub — pat clean with your hands or clean gauze and pat dry.

Do Not

No hot baths, saunas, steam rooms, pools or hot tubs

Skip hot baths, hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, and swimming pools or hot tubs, and avoid vigorous exercise and heavy sweating.

No vigorous exercise or heavy sweating

Skip hot baths, hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, and swimming pools or hot tubs, and avoid vigorous exercise and heavy sweating.

Do not scratch, pick, or rub the treated skin

Do not scratch, pick, or rub the treated skin. If crusting or scabbing forms, let it fall off on its own; picking can cause scarring or infection.

No makeup, deodorant, perfume, or harsh skincare on the area

Avoid makeup, deodorant, perfumed products, and harsh skincare (retinoids, exfoliating acids, scrubs) on the area for a few days, or until any redness has resolved.

The next three to four weeks

Sun avoidance is just as important after treatment as before. Avoid direct sun and tanning for at least 3 to 4 weeks.
Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) daily to the treated area whenever it may be exposed to light, and cover the skin with clothing when possible. This lowers the risk of dark or light spots forming while the skin recovers.

Between sessions

In the 1 to 3 weeks after treatment, treated hairs will shed. You can gently exfoliate or wipe with a damp cloth to help this along — do not pluck or wax.
Shave or trim only between sessions. Do not wax, pluck, thread, or epilate.
Keep every scheduled session and the spacing I advise — consistency is key to good results.
Keep protecting the skin from the sun throughout your treatment course and afterward.
Tell me about any side effects at your next visit so I can adjust the settings to keep your treatments safe and effective.

What to Expect and What Is Normal

Redness, mild swelling, and a warm or tender feeling around the follicles are normal for a few hours up to a couple of days. The skin may look slightly pink or feel like a mild sunburn for a short time.

Hair does not fall out immediately. Over the following days to a couple of weeks, treated hairs shed — this can look like new growth but is actually the hairs being pushed out.

Multiple sessions are required, and results build gradually. Naturally blonde, red, gray, or white hairs contain little pigment and respond poorly or not at all to the laser.

Call Us If You Notice

Call the office at (415) 644-8301 if you notice:

Blistering, open sores, or skin that breaks down
Increasing pain, redness, warmth, swelling, or any pus or discharge — these can signal an infection
Crusting or scabbing that worsens, or new dark or light patches of skin
A cold sore outbreak in the treated area
Any reaction that seems severe or is not improving

For blistering or broken skin, I may recommend an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection — use only what is recommended for you.

Laser Hair Removal Care FAQs

Should I shave before laser hair removal?

Yes. Shave the area about 24 to 48 hours before your appointment. Shaving clears the surface hair so the laser energy reaches the follicle instead of burning hair on the skin, and the tiny stubble left behind helps us see the follicles. Do not wax, pluck, thread, or epilate for at least 4 weeks before — the laser needs the root in place.

How long should I avoid the sun before and after laser hair removal?

At least 3 to 4 weeks on each side of a session, including tanning beds and self-tanners. Wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on the area every day. A sunburn or new tan in the treatment area may mean rescheduling.

When does the hair fall out after laser hair removal?

Not immediately. Treated hairs shed over the following 1 to 3 weeks and can look like new growth on the way out. Gentle exfoliation or a damp cloth helps; plucking and waxing do not.

Where can I learn more about laser hair removal?

See my Laser Hair Removal page for how the treatment works, who it suits, and pricing.

Questions About Your Laser Hair Removal Care?

Keep these instructions for reference throughout your treatment course, and do not hesitate to call the office with any questions. Your comfort, safety, and result are the priority at every session.

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Reviewed and approved by Kourosh Moazemi, MD, FACP, board certified in Internal Medicine. Last reviewed September 9, 2026.