Laser hair removal and microneedling on the face - is 1 week apart okay for these procedures?

Question

Hello, can you please advise me if I can get Laser hair removal on Saturday and get micro needling on the next Saturday that is one week after? Would it be safe? I usually get laser hair removal ndmy skin doesn’t get very red or anything. It goes back to normal within two days but I don’t know if underlying there’s anything..if I’m still going ahead with the micro, one week after, should I ask something specific for my provider? These are being done by two different providers. I am of a female medium skin tone (indian origin)

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

To start with I would recommend speaking with your provider about LHR to the face. Most times, electrolysis is a better choice for the face and it is FDA approved for hair removal vs. lasers that do hair reduction. Regarding your question about scheduling microneedling, as long as you are not experiencing any swelling following your treatment, you are likely to be fine having both treatments a week apart. Best of luck from Boston!

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

This is a great and very thoughtful question, especially since you’re planning treatments with two different providers and are being cautious about your skin’s response.

In general, having facial laser hair removal and microneedling spaced one week apart can be safe for many people, provided the skin has fully recovered from the laser treatment. Since you mentioned that your skin typically returns to normal within about two days, that’s a reassuring sign.

That said, there are a few important nuances to keep in mind:

1) Skin recovery matters more than the calendar
Even if redness resolves quickly on the surface, laser hair removal does create controlled heat in the skin. Microneedling also intentionally creates micro-injuries. Doing them too close together on skin that hasn’t fully recovered can increase the risk of irritation, prolonged redness, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—especially in medium to deeper skin tones, including Indian skin.

2) One week is usually acceptable if there is no lingering sensitivity
If, by the time of microneedling, your skin has:

no redness

no tenderness

no peeling or darkening

then proceeding at the one-week mark is generally reasonable.

3) What to tell your microneedling provider
It’s important to let them know:

the exact date of your laser hair removal

that it was performed on the same facial areas

your skin tone and history of post-treatment reactions, if any

They may choose to:

use a more conservative needle depth

avoid aggressive passes

skip active serums that could be irritating

4) Extra caution for medium skin tones
With melanin-rich skin, spacing treatments conservatively is key to minimizing pigment changes. If there is any residual sensitivity after laser, waiting 10–14 days before microneedling is the safer option.

Bottom line:
Yes, laser hair removal followed by microneedling one week later is often safe if your skin has completely calmed down. Clear communication with both providers and a conservative microneedling approach are essential. If there’s any lingering redness or sensitivity, giving your skin more time is always the wiser choice.

Your cautious approach is exactly right—and it goes a long way in protecting your skin’s long-term health.

Laser hair removal and microneedling on the face - is 1 week apart okay for these procedures?

Answers (2)

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