Why doesn't laser hair removal work sometimes?

Why doesn’t laser hair removal work sometimes?

Dr. Irwin
May 25, 2016
I've had laser done on my face and legs. But laser hair removal did not work on my face why? I'm a brunette with light skin.

Hair follicles are more complicated than you might think.   I was just reading some research on them recently.   They are quite complex little biological units.  🙂

Assuming you’ve had 5-6 treatments spaced 4-8 weeks apart, then here are some thoughts:

  • Hair follicles are under hormonal control and the # and type of hormone receptors differs on different parts of the body
  • Could you be having hormonal irregularities that might affect your facial hair like irregular periods, change in your pattern, etc.?
  • Hair thickness matters.   A great laser nurse will adjust various parameters on a laser like pulse width, total joules, etc. depending on the hair color and quality.  A mediocre provider (usually minimally trained techs) won’t be able to do that.
  • If you are seeing a reduction in the diameter in hairs themselves on your face (finer hair after the laser treatments), then it IS working but more slowly, and you just may need more treatments.
  • No hair removal modality – no matter what it is – is perfect.   Not every hair will be removed.
  • If you think you may be having hormonal problem or have acne plus increased hair growth, be sure to see your doctor.   There are problems that can increase hair growth like polycystic ovaries (PCO), or endometriosis or metabolic syndrome, and many others!!

Hope this helps,  Dr. I

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