Laser Hair Removal for Folliculitis?

asked 3 years ago by aliyas in california
Latest answer by Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Question viewed 14,675 times
Tags: body, folliculitis

Unfortunately from constant shaving and what I guess is sensitive skin, I am now having a problem with folliculitis on my legs, and I was thinking of having laser hair removal. I have scars from the folliculitis that have been there for 3 years, and they just don’t heal away. Therefore, I am not really sure if laser hair removal will leave me with good results. I'm afraid it would leave more marks on my body. Is laser hair removal safe for folliculitis treatment? Is more scarring likely?

5 answers to Laser Hair Removal for Folliculitis?

Laser for folliculitis

As the other physicians have mentioned, laser hair removal can be very effective for treating folliculitis. Remember that you may need more than one treatment. Also, care should be taken for areas that have actively healing folliculitis to avoid scarring. Find a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. Good luck!

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Folliculitis and Laser Hair Removal: Options for treating folliculitis.

Folliculitis is an inflammatory condition caused by chronic injury, allergy, or infection. It is most commonly associated with shaving in the legs. Laser hair removal will remove the irritating process of shaving by minimizing the troublesome hair follicles and shafts. However, that is not the whole treatment. You should also consider a course of salicylic acid or glycolic acid exfoliative pads found on the market. Pore Clarifying Pads are one example we offer in our office. Also,... more

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Laser Hair Removal for Folliculitis

Hi Aliyas, Laser hair removal is an excellent option for folliculitis. Laser hair removal, when performed correctly will not leave marks on your body. If you have pigment from shaving bumps, we suggest one of two options to remove these marks once you have gone through the laser hair removal process. Hydroquinone bleaching creams Q-switched lasers A combination of these two also works well and speeds the process.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser hair removal can be very effectve for folliculitis

Chronic folliculitis problems can be very much improved by laser hair removal. You should go to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon whose office offers this and be evaluated properly as to the areas involved, the color of your skin and the color of your hair.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Laser hair removal will help

Laser hair removal is an excellent treatment for pseudofolliculitis barbae. This condition usually affects the neck, especially in patients with skin of color. The condition can occur, however, anywhere on the body where persistent traumatic shaving or plucking brings the surface of the hair shaft below the skin level and as the curved hair grows, it doesn’t find it's way out of the skin and curls back underneath creating a bump and inflammation. If you have such a condition on the... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

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