Can Laser Hair Removal Cause Excessive Hair Growth? (2024)

FAQs

Can Laser Hair Removal Cause Excessive Hair Growth? ›

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.

In rare instances, laser hair removal may cause thicker, darker hair to grow or regrow in an adjacent area to the one being treated. This condition is known as paradoxical hypertrichosis. Paradoxical hypertrichosis can occur anywhere on the face or body.

The appearance of increased hair growth after laser hair removal can be concerning, but it's important to understand that this is a normal part of the treatment process. Hair shedding, hair growth cycles, and misconceptions about hair growth can all contribute to the perception of increased hairiness.

Why Doesn't Hair Fall Out After a Laser Removal Procedure? It's possible that the hair hasn't had sufficient time to shed after treatment. Alternatively, the laser may not have effectively targeted the hair follicles if they weren't in the right growth phase at the time of treatment.

Reasons for Stubble After Laser Hair Removal

With hairs at different stages at any given time, a single laser session can only target hairs in the active growth phase. This discrepancy means that hairs not in the active phase during treatment will continue to grow, leading to the perception of stubble.

A few days following your laser hair removal treatment, you will notice what appears like new hair growth in the areas that have been treated. Amazingly, this is a sign that the treatment is working! Keep in mind that not all the hair removed by this procedure was above the skin.

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.

Patients may notice more hair 1 – 3 weeks after laser hair removal sessions as follicles in the growing cycle begin to shed. During this process, exfoliating the skin, once swelling and redness have dissipated, can help hairs shed faster, leaving skin feeling smoother.

After the course is complete, the treated area will feel smooth with a permanent reduction in hair growth. Typically we recommend a minimum of 6 laser treatments for women and 8 for men. So you can expect to complete your course after 6-9 months.

If treatment is stopped before all of the hair follicles have been destroyed, some may continue to grow. It is important to complete the recommended treatment plan to achieve the best results. Sometimes, the patient sees hairs are thicker and darker after the treatment when they have original light and fair hair.

Why did laser hair removal make my hair thicker? ›

No one actually knows why this happens with laser patients, but after treatment, the laser can do the opposite of what you're expecting and actually stimulate hair growth. And, if that wasn't enough, the hair can actually come back thicker and darker!

Tips to Encourage Faster Shedding

Moisturising the Skin: Proper hydration of the skin can ease the shedding of hair. Opt for hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturisers that soothe without causing irritation. Avoiding Sun Exposure: The treated areas are particularly sensitive to UV rays post-laser.

However, even after your three to four sessions, you may see some limited hair growth. This is because laser hair removal permanently reduces hair and you may occasionally see some hair come through. It should be noted that this hair is often much thinner than your original hair and patchy.

If you forget to shave, the effectiveness of your treatment may diminish. The laser, instead of focusing on the follicles, might target surface hair. This can lead to heightened discomfort, potential stinging, and a risk of burns. Surface impurities like dirt and oil can also reduce efficacy.

Shave Before Treatment

You should shave within 24 hours of your scheduled laser appointment. Your laser technician cannot treat areas that have hair above the skin. You cannot even receive treatment if there is rough stubble because this may create too much heat for the pigment of your skin.

Immediately after the procedure the treated area might appear red and swollen. This is a normal response and usually subsides within a few hours. 7-14 days after the procedure the hairs will begin to fall out. Now, this doesn't mean the hair won't ever return.

What happens right after the treatment? Do the hairs fall out right away? In many patients the skin is slightly pink for 1-2 days; in others (generally, fairer patients) there is no pinkness after laser hair removal. Hairs begin to fall out in 5-14 days and may continue to do so for weeks.

While laser hair removal has proven to be a highly effective and popular method for reducing unwanted hair, it may not work equally well for everyone. Factors such as hair color, skin type, hormonal imbalances, and individual characteristics can influence the outcome of the treatment.

After undergoing laser hair removal in London or anywhere else, it's common to observe patchy hair regrowth. And the simple reasons is because hair on our bodies grows in different cycles: Anagen (active growth), Catagen (transitional), and Telogen (resting).