Do laser skin treatments cause permanent hair loss (not laser hair removal)?

Dr. Irwin
March 11, 2016
Dear Dr Irwin My recent fraxel restore has singed or sliced off or removed hair where the laser passed over. It's close to the temple and sideburns / hairline. Will this affect the hair follicles and regrowth? I am so worried about hair loss as a result. Thank you!

Do laser skin treatments cause permanent hair loss?  Well fortunately, lasers like the Fraxel Restore or Repair or carbon dioxide lasers, rarely (I’d never say never) affect the hair permanently.   The hair follicle is actually quite deep in the skin and hard to damage.   The hairs were just singed, and usually take about 2-3 weeks to grow back.

This includes some other lasers as well, but not all others, so…….it’s best to ask your doctor before or after a laser treatment if you’re not sure which laser was even used.

Which reminds me ……it’s really a good idea to keep a folder or a log of any laser treatments you’ve had done, the date and which laser!   It can be helpful if there are any problems down the road and there’s a need for a second opinion!!

Hope this helps,  Dr.  Irwin

See Dr. Irwin’s Guide to Laser Hair Removal

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Ask me your skincare question!

Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
  • This site is not affiliated or financially tied to any product, treatment or device.
Ask Me Something
SkinTour Skincare
One of the best investments in your skin is your daily skincare. Why? Because you can prevent many problems with blotchy skin color, lack of glow, texture, some types of acne, and fine lines with good skincare products. You can also correct some of these problems with effective skincare products. Great skincare is often more expensive because quality ingredients are expensive. Some companies spend on research/development which benefits all of us and adds to the cost. Are they worth it? In general - yes! I have handpicked some of what I consider to be the best skin care products, and offer them for sale on SkinTour's shop. This is based on my team and I's testing and research at our clinic. Many of the products are in my own regimen. What could be better than using skin care products a dermatologist uses?!
Browse Shop