Patchy pubic hair 6 months after my first and only laser session.

Question

6 months ago I did brazilian hair removal and for 2 months my pubic hair did not grow. Then it grew back normally. Now 6 months later my pubic hair is very patchy. Does it have to do with my laser hair removal treatment? Ps I also did my underarms but I have no patches.

Adaeze Okeke, MD · Answer

The reason for the patchiness must be because of the laser hair removal treatment you had. The hair grows in cycles, during each treatment only a fraction of the hair is actively growing. Those are the ones that are targeted by the laser. To completely remove all of the hairs you would need at least 6 treatments. Why you have no patchiness to your underarms may be because of the way your hair grows or how thoroughly you were treated. I hope that helps!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, this can be normal after one session of laser hair removal. It takes a series of treatments in order to get the best results. I recommend following up with a laser hair removal expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Hardik Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Laser hair removal uses and intense, pulsating beam of light to remove unwanted hair. The intense heat of the laser damages the hair follicle, which inhibits future hair growth. Yes, this normal after one session of laser hair removal because the laser targets hair in its active growth phase.  Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair. Laser hair removal is considered more permanent reduction than permanent removal. It takes 6-9 sessions to see 70%-90% reduction in hair growth.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Yes, this is completely normal after only one session of laser hair removal. It takes a series of treatmentsto see the final results. Generally, it takes 5-6 treatments to see the full results. I recommend seeing a board certified physician who specializes in laser hair removal. Best, Dr. Green

Leon Goldstein, MD · Answer

One should not expect complete resolution after just one treatment. Hair follicles have many stages of growth sleep and rest. Only the active phase of growth is vulnerable to laser rxs. That's why I recommend at least 6 treatments spaced out every 6 weeks to have a significant impact on appearance. No treatment will remove 100% of the hair, but patience will be rewarded.

Talk to a board certified plastic surgeon from ASPS.

Talk to a board certified plastic surgeon from ASPS.

Amy Y. Paul, DO, FAAD · Answer

This sounds entirely normal. You will want to complete the whole hair removal series your laser specialist recommends for best results. Not every hair follicle is in the same growth phase at the same time, so one treatment is not enough.

Best of luck!

Best of luck!

Ram Chandra, MD · Answer

One laser session is not enough for any area in the body. For the pubic hair to reduce more evenly one need a series of sessions 5-8, for example. That will even out the patchiness.

Steven F. Weiner, MD · Answer

This is a normal result after only one treatment. That is why it is recommended to have a series of 6 or more treatments. The hair removal becomes more even as you get more treatments.

Douglas Halliday, PhD, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi Sammy- thanks for your question.  The hair on our body goes through different phases of growth (3 phases) and only a portion of your hair is actively growing (beneath the surface of your skin) at any one time.  So... when you have a laser treatment, the wavelength of light is effectively targeting only those hairs in the growth phase.  It's likely that the reason you see some "patches" is for that reason.  As far as seeing a difference between your pubic area and underarms, that's likely due to the fact that those areas have difference hair follicles that were targetting and also to do with the precision/ targetting of the laser itself by your technician.

If you choose laser hair removal in the future for more treatment, choose a provider that is physician supervised and has a LOT of experience; has a modern laser with multiple wavelengths and spot sizes so that they can target each area effectively.  Wtih a good, experienced provider and laser you should expect 6-8 treatments on both of these areas and your treatments should be about every 6-8 weeks due to the hair growth cycle I mentioned.  Best of luck to you, Doc Halliday

Patchy pubic hair 6 months after my first and only laser session.

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