Is this reaction to laser hair removal normal? (Photo)

Question

I had laser hair removal yesterday on my legs (the alexandrite laser) and it was a little bit red as I left but felt fine. Over the evening red bumps appeared and today they are quite red and now they are raised and extremely itchy. I have scratched quite a lot and it's made the bumps get higher. I had a patch test which did the same thing and lasted about 7/8 days of bumps and itching but the hair was definitely reduced. is this normal? Is my body telling me I shouldn't get it done again?

Brian S. Biesman, MD · Answer

You develop a concernWhenever a patient develops a concern immediately after undergoing any type of aesthetic treatments I strongly recommend consulting with the physician who performed or is supervising the treatment.  That isthe best first place to start.

Steven F. Weiner, MD · Answer

Itchy red bumps is related to inflammation of the hair follicle and means that there was probably adequate heat to kill the germinal cells. Applying topical hydrocortisone will help subdue this reaction and make you feel better.

Christopher Dannaker, DO, MPH, FAAD · Answer

As always, you should consult immediately with the treating physician, who can evaluate you in person.  The primary worry with laser hair removal is a thermal injury to the skin such as raw spots or blisters.  Your reaction is discrete and appears to in most part surround the actual follicles which suggests just a swelling reaction to the laser's destruction of the follicle.   Your hair appears to be very course.  With course dark hair there is often a significant disruption to the hair follicle, causing temporary swelling.   If a patient has very course hair and has not had previous hair removal treatments, sometimes it's necessary to reduce the fluence (dose) and or the pulse width of laser emission, at least until the hair begins to thin and the remaining hair grows back with a narrower diameter shaft (and hence less reactive to the laser).  Your doctor can recommend some topical and/or oral treatments to hasten the resolution of these temporary reactions as he/she and you decide.

Is this reaction to laser hair removal normal? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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