Laser Hair Removal on Broken Skin

Can you get laser hair removal on broken skin? The answer is probably no. 

Whether your skin is flaring up or you’ve recently had an accident, a laser treatment is never safe on broken skin. You should probably reschedule your appointment and give your skin time to heal. 

That said, there are some ambiguous situations where it might be possible to protect the sensitive area. In this post, we’ll explain when you can and when you can’t do laser hair removal with broken skin.

Types of Broken Skin

When our customers ask us about broken skin, these are usually the main types of concerns they’re dealing with. 

Eczema & Psoriasis 

Eczema is a common skin condition that’s often referred to as atopic dermatitis. Those with eczema are prone to itchy rashes that make the skin feel rough. Flare-ups often happen as a result of irritants or allergens, but they can also pop up for no reason at all. 

You can still get laser hair removal even if you have eczema, as well as if you have other inflammatory conditions like psoriasis. Many of our customers find that by reducing hair growth, laser hair removal allows them to stop shaving, preventing a source of irritation that can worsen eczema. 

However, if you have an eczema flare-up in the area where you’re being treated, you’ll need to delay your laser appointment until after it clears. In cases of minor flare-ups, we might still be able to laser most of the surrounding area. 

Cuts and Abrasions 

There is no room for debate here – if you have a cut, abrasion, or any other kind of open wound, we cannot laser the injured area. 

If it’s just a small cut or scrape in a larger area, we can simply work around the cut. For smaller treatment areas or larger injuries to the skin, it’s important to let your skin heal before attempting to remove the hair.

Scars

Doing laser hair removal over scars depends on the type of scar you have and how much time it has had to heal. 

For example, laser can be done over small, depressed, or non-textured scars, like acne scars and hyperpigmentation. It can be complicated with larger or more raised scars (and in most cases, hair doesn’t grow back in those areas).

Post-Laser Hair Removal Tips for Broken Skin

Ultimately, most laser providers will not perform laser hair removal on broken skin at all. If you are dealing with broken skin and were recently treated, these tips will help your skin recover: 

• Follow all laser hair removal pre and post-care guidance, including avoiding heat, sun exposure, and new irritants. 
• If your skin is broken or injured, treat it as you would any other wound. Keep the area clean, covered in an occlusive ointment, and bandaged if necessary. 
• If your skin is irritated but not broken, you can use topical anti-inflammatory ointments like hydrocortisone cream. 
• Avoid wearing tight clothing that may chafe against your skin. 
• Avoid applying any exfoliating or skin-resurfacing products to the treated area. 
• If you experience any unusual side effects beyond what’s typical post-laser, seek medical guidance. 

If you’re interested in laser hair removal and you want to know that you’re in safe hands, book an appointment with us at SEV — you can even get your first session for free with code HELLOSMOOTH. 

All of our specialists are registered nurses or specialized laser technicians who will never put you in harm’s way. Just make sure that your skin is in good condition before booking!