Aftercare that protects your results

You've had your laser session. Now what?

The treatment itself might only take a short time, but what you do afterwards matters too.

Laser works by delivering energy into the hair follicle, which also creates temporary heat in the surrounding skin.

Your aftercare is about allowing your skin to settle, avoiding unnecessary irritation and keeping your treatment course on track.

The first 24–48 hours

Your skin may feel slightly warm, sensitive or look a little red after treatment.

Small raised bumps around the follicles can also appear. These are common temporary responses, although everyone's skin reacts differently.

During this initial period:

• Avoid hot baths, saunas, steam rooms and excessive heat.
• Avoid vigorous exercise that causes significant sweating or friction until the skin has settled.
• Keep skincare gentle and avoid exfoliating acids, retinoids and harsh scrubs on the treated area.
• Avoid scratching, picking or rubbing the skin.
• Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser if needed.

If your skin feels particularly warm, a cool compress can help provide relief.

Blistering, significant pain or worsening skin changes are not expected reactions. Contact the clinic promptly if these occur.

What happens to the hair afterwards?

This is where people sometimes get confused.

You might notice what looks like hair growing back in the days or weeks following treatment.

But it isn't necessarily new growth.

Treated hairs can gradually work their way out of the follicles before shedding. This process can take around one to three weeks, sometimes longer.

You might notice little dark dots or short hairs appearing at the surface.

Resist the urge to pull them out.

Can I shave between appointments?

Absolutely.

Shaving cuts the hair at the surface without removing it from the follicle.

Once your skin has settled, you can shave as needed.

What I don't recommend is waxing, threading, plucking or epilating during your course, because these methods remove the hair from the follicle that we're trying to target.

What about exfoliating?

Once your skin has fully recovered, gentle exfoliation may help with the shedding process if appropriate for your skin.

But don't rush it.

You don't need to aggressively scrub your skin to make the hair fall out. It will shed naturally.

Don't forget sun protection

Protecting treated skin from UV exposure is particularly important.

Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on exposed areas, avoid tanning and let me know about any recent sun exposure or changes in your skin colour before your next session.

Tanned or sun-irritated skin can increase the risk of unwanted reactions.

What should I expect over the next few weeks?

You may notice a period where the area feels noticeably smoother, followed by some regrowth as other hairs enter their growth cycles.

This is normal.

Results develop gradually across your course, and the pattern of regrowth helps me assess how your treatment is progressing.

Good aftercare won't replace effective laser treatment, but it helps protect your skin and reduces avoidable complications while we work towards your results.