About the author
Dr. Anastacia Munro, MD, is the Medical Director of Parie Med Spa and a fellowship-trained anesthesiologist with more than 10 years of experience in patient care and procedural medicine. She oversees Parie’s clinical standards with a focus on patient safety and evidence-based care.
Professional profiles: Doximity · Healthgrades · Summerlin Hospital directory · NPI Registry
TLDR: Your laser hair removal aftercare centers on a cool compress, gentle washing, sun protection and a razor instead of wax or tweezers between sessions. Your provider gives you Parie’s own instructions.
After laser hair removal, use a cool compress for discomfort, wash your skin gently with soap and water, avoid sun exposure for at least one week, then use sunscreen daily before going outdoors, and shave instead of waxing or plucking between sessions.
Your booked session is today, and you are getting ready to leave for your Las Vegas appointment. What happens when you get home matters too: washing treated skin, keeping it out of the sun and knowing which reactions warrant a call. Our team reviewed 12 medical, regulatory and research sources on laser hair removal, from Cleveland Clinic, the AAD, the FDA and six published studies.
What does laser hair removal aftercare look like in the first 24 hours?
After treatment, the AAD suggests a cool compress to ease your discomfort. Redness, swelling and discomfort are its most common listed side effects, usually minor and lasting 1 to 3 days. The reaction often resembles a mild sunburn.
During the first few hours, your skin sometimes looks red and swollen, and stinging sometimes lingers for a day or two, Cleveland Clinic explains. Its aftercare guidance calls for gentle washing with soap and water while your skin settles. Picking at the area or scrubbing vigorously goes against that guidance.
How should you prepare in the weeks before your session?
In the weeks before treatment, Cleveland Clinic advises you to avoid tanning beds and stay out of the sun as much as possible. For shaving, its guidance specifies two to three days before treatment. That timing applies to the area you are having treated, subject to your own pre-visit instructions.
In its separate procedure guidance, Cleveland Clinic advises you to avoid sunbathing and tanning beds for two weeks before the procedure. The same two-week preparation period applies to waxing in Cleveland Clinic’s guidance. The AAD also advises you to avoid sunless tanners before treatment.
- Sun exposure: follow Cleveland Clinic’s advice to stay out of the sun as much as possible in the weeks before your appointment.
- Hair removal: follow its guidance to avoid waxing for two weeks before the procedure and confirm your razor timing at the consultation.
- Skin history: tell your provider about a recent tan, a tendency to scar, a past raised scar or a tendency to get cold sores, as the AAD advises.
- Medicines: include everything you take, including over-the-counter medicine, in line with the AAD’s preparation advice.
Each of these details shapes your plan. The AAD says the success of laser hair removal depends on where the unwanted hair is on your body, the color and coarseness of your hair and where your hair is in its growth cycle.
What should you avoid during the first week afterward?
Cleveland Clinic advises you to wash your skin gently with soap and water while your skin settles. Picking or vigorous scrubbing is out, the same guidance says. The same source advises you to avoid sun exposure, including natural sunlight and tanning beds, for at least one week afterward, then use sunscreen whenever you are in the sun.
Perfumes and other potential irritants should stay off your treatment area before and after treatment, according to Cleveland Clinic. Check which of your usual products go on that area. Your provider tells you when to resume products on treated skin.
Between sessions, a razor is the choice for your hair removal routine. Cleveland Clinic advises against waxing, tweezing and plucking once treatment begins. Confirm when to use the razor in your own aftercare instructions.
The AAD states following both before-treatment and post-treatment instructions greatly reduces your risk of side effects.
How does the Las Vegas sun affect laser hair removal aftercare?
The AAD calls for broad-spectrum, SPF 30+ and water-resistant sunscreen every day before you go outdoors. Those are the three features to check when choosing your sunscreen.
In a city with this much sun, the smartest time to start is a season when you find it easiest to keep treated skin covered. Look at your outdoor plans before choosing an appointment date. Plan around Cleveland Clinic’s minimum week without sun exposure after treatment.
The AAD advises every patient to protect their skin from the sun to avoid possible side effects, so sun protection is part of your aftercare. After that first week, Cleveland Clinic’s advice turns to sunscreen use whenever you are in the sun, so your daily sunscreen habit carries straight through to your next session.
Longer-lasting reduction is the goal: Cleveland Clinic reports results last longer than shaving or waxing, with some hair growing back, usually lighter and thinner. Individual results vary. Your care continues between visits, and our guide to how long laser hair removal lasts explains what to expect from regrowth.
Which reactions are expected, and when should you call?
Redness and swelling are common, but the AAD also lists rare reactions such as blistering, cold sore outbreaks, infections and scarring. If your skin does more than the redness and swelling described here, call your provider. Parie’s number is (702) 930-6221.
| What you might notice | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Redness and swelling | The AAD lists these among the most common side effects, which are usually minor and last 1 to 3 days. |
| Stinging | Cleveland Clinic describes stinging that sometimes lingers for a day or two after treatment. |
| Slight crusting or scabbing | Cleveland Clinic lists temporary skin irritation, crusting or scabbing as possible side effects. |
| Treated skin becomes darker or lighter | Cleveland Clinic describes pigment changes that are usually temporary. |
| Blistering, cold sore outbreaks, infection or scarring | The AAD lists these as rare side effects. Call your provider if your reaction goes beyond the redness and swelling described here. |
Why plan your laser hair removal with Parie Med Spa in Las Vegas?
At your free 30-minute consultation in Summerlin, your provider reviews your skin and hair and sets your plan. Parie uses the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus for laser hair removal, with plans running 8 to 16 sessions. Medical Director Dr. Anastacia Munro, MD, oversees Parie’s clinical standards.
Good news for your visit: Parie’s specials are open to everyone, with $99 for 3 areas (small, medium and large) and $175 for full body laser hair removal. Your free consultation shows you exactly which areas your special covers and maps a plan for your skin and hair. The Las Vegas laser hair removal cost guide gives you more about planning your visit.
Our licensed team welcomes you at 1725 Village Center Circle, Suite 150, Las Vegas, NV 89134. Parie is open 7 days, 9 AM to 5 PM. You can book your free laser consultation online.
What else should you know about aftercare? FAQ
Is it OK to shave between laser hair removal sessions?
Yes, use a razor between sessions rather than wax or tweezers, following your own timing instructions. Cleveland Clinic also notes laser hair removal will not work on hair longer than a grain of rice. Its general pre-visit guidance is to shave two to three days before treatment.
How long does redness last after laser hair removal?
Redness is among the AAD’s common side effects, which usually last 1 to 3 days. Most people return to everyday activities despite the initial redness and swelling, according to the AAD. Your sun precautions still apply.
When is it OK to go in the sun after laser hair removal?
You should avoid sun exposure for at least one week, then use sunscreen whenever you are in the sun, according to Cleveland Clinic. Indoor tanning is also excluded: the AAD says not to use a tanning bed, sun lamp or other indoor tanning equipment after treatment.
Is deodorant OK after underarm laser hair removal?
Deodorant should stay off your treatment area before and after treatment, according to Cleveland Clinic. Your provider tells you when to resume it.
What happens if I get a tan before laser hair removal?
A tan sometimes makes treatment less effective and raises the risk of side effects, according to Cleveland Clinic. Its warning covers both naturally and artificially tanned skin. Tell your provider before treatment about a recent tan, as the AAD advises.
Is a cold compress or a cool compress better?
Cleveland Clinic lists a cold compress for the treated area, and the AAD suggests a cool compress to ease your discomfort. Either way, your aim is comfort while redness and swelling settle, which the AAD says usually takes 1 to 3 days. Follow your own aftercare instructions.
Ready for a clear plan for your next visit? The $99 for 3 areas (small, medium and large) special is open to everyone. Book your free consultation, and your licensed aesthetician confirms which areas fit the special and sets a plan for your skin and hair. No deposit, pay after your treatment. Contact Parie in Las Vegas and someone from our team will call to confirm your appointment.
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