Summer wardrobes put more skin on display, and for a lot of people, that means more time with a razor and more waxing appointments booked before every pool day. What tends to get overlooked is the toll that the constant battle against unwanted hair takes on the skin itself. Nicks, ingrown hairs and angry red bumps go beyond simple annoyance. They are skin problems in their own right. Looked at that way, laser hair removal starts to feel less like a beauty splurge and more like a smart investment in healthier skin. Our Denver-area patients at AboutSkin Dermatology and Aesthetics often choose it for exactly that reason.
The Hidden Toll of Shaving and Waxing on Your Skin
Every pass of a razor drags a blade across your skin barrier. Over months and years, that adds up to chronic irritation, razor burn and the folliculitis that leaves so many people with bumpy, inflamed underarms and bikini lines. Waxing yanks hair from the root, which can trigger swelling, broken capillaries and lingering redness.
The bigger culprit is ingrown hairs. When a shaved or waxed hair curls back into the skin instead of growing outward, it sparks an inflammatory reaction known as pseudofolliculitis. Those bumps can darken into stubborn spots of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that outlast the hair itself, especially on deeper skin tones. In one peer-reviewed study, patients who completed a full series of laser treatments saw meaningful relief: 70% reported at least a 75% reduction in these lesions, and 96% were able to shave comfortably afterward. That is a skin outcome, not merely a grooming one.
How Laser Hair Removal Doubles as Skin Care
Laser hair removal (LHR) works through a process called selective photothermolysis. The laser sends specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed by the pigment inside each hair follicle. That energy converts to heat, which damages the follicle’s ability to grow new hair while leaving the surrounding skin intact.
Here is where the skin care payoff comes in. Fewer active follicles means fewer hairs curling back into the skin, so ingrown bumps and the dark marks they leave behind have far less chance to form. Patients who once dealt with weekly razor burn often find their skin calmer and more even after a treatment series. You are removing the source of the irritation rather than managing the fallout week after week. For anyone whose skin reacts badly to shaving or waxing, laser hair removal can quiet a cycle of inflammation that no amount of aftershave balm fully solves.
“For a lot of patients, the real win is not fewer hairs, it is skin that stops flaring up every single time they shave,” says Dr. Cohen.
Shaving, Waxing and Laser at a Glance
| Method | How Long It Lasts | Common Skin Effects |
| Shaving | One to three days | Razor burn, nicks, ingrown hairs |
| Waxing | Three to six weeks | Redness, irritation, ingrown hairs |
| Laser hair removal | Long-lasting to permanent reduction | Minimal, with less ingrown-hair irritation over time |
What Makes Clarity II™ Different
Not every laser suits every patient, and the right device matters most for darker skin tones, where older systems carried a higher risk of pigment changes. Clarity II is a dual-wavelength platform that pairs a 755nm Alexandrite wavelength for lighter skin and finer hair with a 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength that reaches deeper and treats richer skin tones safely. Its IntelliTrak technology monitors skin temperature in real time and adjusts energy delivery to keep each pulse in a comfortable, controlled range.
Technology only goes as far as the hands guiding it. AboutSkin Dermatology and Aesthetics is led by Dr. Joel L. Cohen, a Board-Certified Dermatologist known internationally for his cosmetic and laser work, alongside a team of Board-Certified Dermatologists. The practice has earned recognition as a World’s Leading Clinic, a designation awarded only after an independent review of safety and patient care.
What to Expect From Laser Hair Removal Treatment
Most patients reach their goal within six to eight LHR sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart. That spacing is important because lasers only affect follicles in their active growth phase, and hair cycles in and out of that phase over time. Each session catches a fresh batch of follicles, which is why the schedule runs across several visits rather than one.
Session length depends on the area. The upper lip takes five to 10 minutes, underarms run about 15 to 20 minutes and full legs can take 45 to 60 minutes. Downtime is minimal. Expect mild redness that resembles a light sunburn for one to three hours, and follow it with a gentle moisturizer and diligent sunscreen. Skip hot baths, saunas and hard workouts for about 24 hours, then let the treated hairs shed on their own over the following weeks.
Why Summer Is the Trickiest Time to Start
There is a reason dermatologists often steer patients toward starting a laser series before peak sun season. Freshly treated skin is more sensitive to ultraviolet light, and a recent tan can raise the risk of pigment changes. Colorado’s high-altitude sun is stronger than most people realize, so sun exposure needs real respect between sessions.
That does not mean summer is off limits. It means planning matters. Beginning in late spring or committing to broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher lets you keep treatments on track while protecting the skin you are working to improve.
Setting Honest Expectations
Laser hair removal offers long-lasting to permanent hair reduction, not an overnight fix. You will notice treated hairs shedding within one to three weeks, with visible thinning by four to six weeks. After a full series, any hair that returns is usually finer and lighter, and occasional touch-up sessions keep results in check. Hormonal shifts and certain medications can prompt new growth, which is normal and manageable. Realistic expectations, paired with a consistent schedule, give you the best outcome.
Give Your Razor an Early Retirement
If you are tired of the shave-irritate-repeat loop, laser hair removal at AboutSkin Dermatology and Aesthetics in Greenwood Village offers a way out that treats your skin better along the way. Request a consultation to talk with our Denver-area team about whether Clarity II laser hair removal is right for you.
