Is extreme swelling and itching normal after laser hair removal treatment?

Question

I got my first laser hair removal treatment under my chin and upper neck and the next day my chin and under my chin was severely swollen to the point where I could not look down and I was itching really bad. The nurses think I was having a severe allergic reaction to the histamine used. They prescribed some pills abs I have been taking them for 3 days but the swelling is slowly going away. Is this normal and how long will it take for the swelling to completely go away?

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! Every so often, we do see an itchy bumpy rash following laser hair removal. This is usually because of irritation of the hair follicles in the treated area, and this can be easily treated with a mild cortisone preparation. I would let the treating provider know this has happened and make sure they take any necessary precautions before the next visit – cleaning the site well, removing any excess gel if used, etc. Several new laser systems are now available which are super fast and most of the time will not lead to this type of adverse event – so make sure you are going to a reputable person with the latest laser hair removal technology Best of luck!

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Is extreme swelling and itching normal after laser hair removal treatment?

Answers (1)

LASER HAIR REMOVAL PROVIDERS NEAR YOU