A great deal of misinformation circulates on this subject. Some situations genuinely prevent treatment, others simply mean postponing by a few weeks, and many of the “contraindications” you find on forums are nothing of the sort. Let us sort it out.
What rules out treatment
- Pregnancy. No study shows a risk, but none shows the absence of risk either: as a matter of precaution, we do not treat. A protocol under way is paused, nothing is lost.
- Isotretinoin (oral acne treatment). The skin becomes fragile and heals poorly. You have to wait, generally several months after stopping — your dermatologist sets the interval.
- An active infection or lesion on the area: a herpes flare-up, a wound, eczema in crisis, a burn, sunburn. We treat when the skin is healthy.
- Significant photosensitivity, whether from a condition or from long-term medication.
- A pacemaker or certain implanted devices, depending on the area: to be discussed with your doctor.
What merely means waiting
This is the largest category, and the most misunderstood. Nothing is permanently closed off — you just have to shift the date.
- A recent tan — sun, sunbed or self-tanner. Count on 2 to 4 weeks, longer on darker skin. It is the leading cause of a postponed session.
- Waxing or tweezing within 4 weeks: the root is gone, so the laser has no target.
- Certain photosensitising medicines: several antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, diuretics. We look at it case by case — often it is enough to wait until the course ends.
- A recent peel, aesthetic laser or injection on the area.
- An inflammatory acne flare-up on the area to be treated.
What is not a contraindication
Contrary to what is often written:
- Having dark skin. The Nd:YAG laser is made precisely for that. We cover it in our article on laser hair removal on dark skin.
- Having moles. We simply work around them.
- Being tattooed. We do not go over the tattoo, but all around it, yes.
- Having PCOS or being post-menopausal. That changes the goal and the number of sessions, not whether it is feasible.
- Taking the pill. No problem at all.
- Being on your period. Not a contraindication; the bikini area is simply more sensitive on those days.
- Breastfeeding. Not forbidden, but speak to your doctor — we follow their advice.
The limits that are not medical
One last category deserves naming, because it disappoints when it has not been said in time: white, grey or very light hair does not respond to any laser. It no longer contains melanin, so there is no target. This is not a safety contraindication, it is a limit of effectiveness — but it is absolute, and we would rather tell you at the assessment than at the fifth session. The subject is covered in our comparison of the technologies.
Why we ask you all those questions
The questionnaire at the first appointment is not administrative box-ticking. Your current medication, your healing history, your sun exposure and your phototype determine the exact settings of the device. A centre that asks you nothing before firing should worry you.
And if you are unsure about your own situation, say so: in the vast majority of cases the answer is “yes, but we wait three weeks”, not “no”.
The assessment is free and without commitment, in Uccle, Etterbeek or Watermael-Boitsfort. Book an appointment · Ask us a question
