How Long Should I Stay out of the Sun After Laser Hair Removal?

You don't want to get tanned or have sun exposure for a good six months minimum after laser hair removal if you are prone to getting hyperpigmentation as a response to trauma (acne, burns, scratches, etc.). Also, if you have a tan, then you can't be treated with laser hair removal until the tan goes away otherwise there may be an increased risk of complications.

Patients should avoid the sun 4 weeks prior and 4 weeks after laser hair removal.  The skin may continue to be sensitive so patients should use sun block as necessary.

After laser hair removal, it is usually recommended to avoid sun exposure for at least 7-10 days. This will reduce the chance of complications. Sun avoidance and sunblock use are recommended in general while doing laser hair removal treatments to minimize the risk of side effects such as burns and pigment changes because tanned skin can be more prone to complications with laser hair removal.

Tanning is not recommended for almost any laser treatment, but especially Laser Hair Removal. After the laser hair removal your skin is more sensitive and you can burn easily if you go tanning. When you tan before the laser treatment the chances of side effects such as hyper pigmentation and scarring are much higher. Using sun protection every day is very important and if you do tan you should wait a while until your tan fades before doing another treatment.

Thank you for your question. It is important to not tan before, after or in between laser hair removal sessions as it can cause hyperpigmentation and burns during treatment. It is best to be at your base skin tone while receiving treatment to get the maximum results possible. Best of Luck!