Can Laser Hair Removal Help Ingrown Hairs? Yes, Here's How

Laser hair removal for ingrown hairs provides a permanent fix.

The treatment destroys the hair follicle with a laser.

This stops hair from growing and getting trapped under the skin.

You can get treatment even with existing razor bumps.

After treatment trapped hairs push out and shed naturally.

Multiple sessions are necessary for full effectiveness.

This process targets hair in different growth cycles.

It eliminates the root cause of ingrowns for smooth skin.

Laser hair removal destroys the hair follicle to prevent ingrown hairs.

Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in your hair follicle with a strong beam of light. This light energy converts to heat, which damages the follicle and impairs its ability to grow new hair. A 2019 review published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology confirmed that laser hair removal is an effective long-term solution for reducing hair growth. When fewer hairs are growing, there are fewer chances for them to become ingrown. The heat from the laser targets and destroys the follicle, significantly decreasing the possibility of ingrown hairs forming. Unlike shaving or waxing, which often exacerbate the problem, laser treatment offers a lasting solution that prevents new hairs from growing in problematic ways. Over time, as the treated hairs thin or fall out, existing ingrown hairs often resolve on their own. Clinical studies show significant improvement in razor bumps and ingrown hairs after just a few treatments. This makes laser hair removal one of the only methods that can completely prevent ingrown hairs from arising in the future.

You can get laser treatment even with existing ingrown hairs.

Yes, you can get laser hair removal even while you have ingrown hairs and the treatment will still be as effective and even lead to permanent hair removal after enough laser hair removal sessions. You’ll find yourself shedding after laser hair removal and during this time it can feel like ingrown hairs are coming in. Instead, what this feeling may be is the follicle working its way towards the surface of the skin. The presence of ingrown hairs doesn’t affect this process, and you will still see outstanding results. Laser hair removal doesn’t just decrease the probability of ingrown hairs, it removes the source of the irritation entirely. Clinical studies show significant improvement in razor bumps and ingrown hairs after just a few treatments. This makes laser hair removal an excellent solution for addressing and preventing ingrown hairs.

Existing ingrown hairs may surface and shed after your first treatments.

Those prone to ingrowns may experience a heightened risk of ingrown hairs about a week post-treatment when hairs are re-sprouting. While proper exfoliation and skin care can help, they cannot completely prevent ingrowns which are simply an inherent side effect of the laser hair removal process. Without laser eliminating the hair follicle, the hair continues to grow through its cycle while being trapped under the skin. Because the follicle is active, it can remain trapped even as the skin cycles through its normal turnover process. With laser hair removal, the follicle is no longer growing, the hair will eventually work its way out of the skin as the cells continue to turn over. You may notice what feels like new ingrown hairs forming after treatment. In reality, the follicle is pushing the trapped hair toward the surface. This is the body's natural exfoliation process at work. The hair is being expelled from the skin rather than remaining trapped beneath the surface. Gentle exfoliation after treatment will help minimize the problem. Use a soft washcloth or mild exfoliating scrub to help dislodge any hairs working their way to the surface. This helps the laser effectively target the hair follicles to be removed but also removes skin cells that might contribute to preventing smooth hair growth.

Multiple sessions offer a long-term solution to stop ingrown hairs.

Laser hair removal requires multiple sessions for full effectiveness.

Hair grows in different cycles.

The laser is only effective on hairs in the active growth phase, known as the anagen stage.

Not all hairs are in this stage at the same time.

Each treatment targets the follicles currently in the anagen phase.

This is why sessions are scheduled several weeks apart.

This timing allows new hairs to enter the active growth cycle for the next treatment.

For the most effective results, you need multiple laser hair removal sessions.

This process systematically destroys the hair follicles.

When the follicle is destroyed, it can no longer produce hair.

No hair means no chance of it becoming trapped under the skin.

This makes laser hair removal a permanent solution to ingrown hairs.

The American Academy of Dermatology reports a 70–90% reduction in ingrown hairs after a full course of treatment.

By undergoing a complete series of treatments, you eliminate the root cause of bumps and irritation.

This leaves you with smoother skin long-term.