Laser Hair Removal: Stories

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Hair is Gone, but Now a Sweaty Mess! - Miami

So far, I have received 9 treatments for almost my...

So far, I have received 9 treatments for almost my entire body - legs, bikini, butt cheeks, underarms, upper lip, and chin. Things were going great, and my hair was really going away and everything was great...until the sweating began. Nobody warned me that this would be a side effect, and i can't even find info on it now as i research it.

When i say sweating, I mean everywhere! My entire legs now sweat, which never happened before. Sometimes I even have to re-iron my dress pants before leaving the house. When wearing shorts, sometimes I notice sweat marks around my crotch! Sooo embarrassing! That area definitely sweats all the time now, but every once in awhile, it will actually sweat through my clothes. And there's no stopping the sweat from my underarms! it's like turning on a water faucet every day! I am also constantly wiping sweat from my upper lip and chin.

Don't get me wrong, i am very pleased with the results of the hair removal. My body is very smooth and i don't worry about the ingrown hairs anymore. But geez, i certainly didn't realize that i would end up having to deal with this sweating issue! The ladies that perform the hair removal say they haven't heard of such a thing. I asked about Botox, but they wouldn't recommend that b/c it is very expensive, painful, and only lasts for months at a time. I don't know what to do, but just hoping that over time, my hair pores shrink up now that hair isn't coming through them, and maybe this will decrease the sweating.

Great review?

This place gave me a pretty good deal on my treatment, and it came with the lifetime guarantee. I am pleased with the results, but just wish the sweat was not a problem now, which is no fault of theirs.

Comments (9)

Smooth and Sweaty 7 May 2013
I have the same problem too..The bikini area soaks through my clothes now. This is a real issue and I'm glad I looked it up.
Leticia Pollo 25 Oct 2012
I would like to ask to all the people who had developed this hyperhidrosis side effect to write to my email. This way we can get in touch and talk about where we are from, how it has happened to each one and maybe identify common characteristics that make us more susceptible to this. I'm already talking to the Brazilian Society of Dermatology and trying to publish my case, willing the dermatologists are aware of it and talk about this with the patients. The more people reporting this effect, the more accredited we are going to be. Please write to: leticiapollo@gmail.com
BrickHouseNY 24 Oct 2012
OMG!!!! I am having the same problem and I hate it!!!! I purchased a groupon and got laser on my bikini (6 treatments), underarms (6 treatments), full legs (about 3 treatments), and lip and chin (2 treatments). Before the laser treatments I barely every sweat, even after an intense workout. Now doing little things like getting dressed will leaved me drenched!!!!! I can't even dance when I go out because the sweat will literally pour off of me. I was never warned about this side effect, and if I knew, I would have never got the laser treatments. Not to mention my underarms have a strong order now. I am sooooo upset!!!! It seems like A LOT of people are experiencing the same horrible side effect. Although the ppl that do the laser treatments are saying it shouldn't effect sweat glands, it clearly does!!!! Laser hair removal is relatively new, so all of the side effects are not yet known. After doing some research and reading these posts I am certain the laser hair removal is the cause. Can we sue for this? For the people that have had the problem for a while, has it gotten any better? I pray that it won't stay like this.
Tttttan 7 Jul 2012

I am having the same problem! I never have had sweaty armpits until after my third visit for the laser hair removal! When I told them that about my concerns they said its the first time someone ever complain about increasing sweating after laser procedures and may be its just hormones! I missed 2 appointments, my sweating kind of stoped bothering me and I went again! And again I have to wash my armpits 4-6 times a day! they are so stinky!
Reading these reviews I think that I will stop-4 visits was enough damage done :((
I miss

RXR 9 Jun 2012
I'm glad people are talking about it, as I thought I was the only one. I had 4 laser sessions for legs & bikini, and my bikini area started to sweat like never ever before. I have to wear dry liners now, and choose my clothing very carefully. I went to see a dermatologist, who, incidently, also operates the laser hair removal clinin - and she looked at me in silence for about 10 minutes..She then said that its IMPOSSIBLE that this sweating was caused by laser, as she attends numerous conferences and has never heard of such side effect! But i know my body, and i know that this has only started after i started laser. As soon as I suspected that this new and weird sweating could be caused by laser, i stopped the sessions. Its been 6 months since my last session, but the effects are still there - although a LITTLE BIT better that before. This experience of doind laser - i regret with all my heart! Did i mention that my privates were sweating insanely in a middle of January, in -30C outside???!
Leticia Pollo 15 May 2012
I have developed the same problem! After 2 sessions of laser for hair removal in my underarms, I've started to sweat a lot!
I've searched for all possible causes (like hormonal), but my body is completely normal. And the laser is the only possible cause.
I guess this problem is definitive, since it has started 2 years ago and there was no reduction of this excessive sweat.
I've tried deodorant containing aluminum chloride, however I've not noticed any change. So, now I use botox approximately twice a year. But it is not viable for the rest of my life.
I got very upset with this and there is nothing that I regret more in my life than this treatment.
I'm desperate trying to find some treatment to get rid off this problem, which I have never had before the laser!
Nicole S 4 Nov 2010
I have had clients tell me that their underarms sweat more now - and they always thought it was because they had no hair to hold the deodorant under there anymore. lol

I'm not sure of the real reason, but maybe it's something to do with the follicles being smaller?

We still have so much to learn apparently. :)
H_Lynn 22 Sep 2010
I just finished my 7th treatment and I am almost completely hairless and so far I haven't had any sweating problems, I have never heard of that, but now I am a little scared and hope that doesn't happen to me! Good luck!
Tom at RealSelf (Community Manager) 5 Sep 2010

You're right.  I looked at our Laser Hair Removal Side Effects section, and no mention of sweating.  Good to hear you're happy with the final outcome

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