You’ve been counting down to your next laser hair removal session, dreaming of smooth, carefree skin. But you’re also dreaming of a year-round sun-kissed glow.
The unfortunate truth is that a tan — natural or not — can seriously interfere with laser hair removal and recovery. What feels like a harmless tan can actually cause burns, irritation, or uneven results.
Before you start your next round of treatments and tanning sessions, read this blog by our experienced doctor, Divina Averilla, MD, and the team at Love Your Body Medical Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. We tell you what you need to know about how tanning affects laser hair removal and why protecting your skin is the key to getting the best, safest results.
Laser hair removal uses targeted light energy to find and destroy the hair follicles in your skin. The laser is drawn to melanin, the pigment that gives your hair its color. When the beam of light hits the follicle, it converts to heat, damaging the root and preventing or slowing down future hair growth.
For this process to work properly, the laser has to distinguish between your skin tone and your hair color.
That contrast — dark hair on lighter skin — is what allows the laser to “see” the hair. But when your skin is tanned, that balance changes. The laser can’t tell what’s hair and what’s skin, and that’s when problems start.
A tan means your skin has produced extra melanin. Since lasers are designed to target pigment, they’ll pick up that darker skin tone, too.
Instead of focusing on the follicle, the energy may scatter or absorb into the skin’s surface. That can cause burning, blistering, or hyperpigmentation. Even sunless tanners are risky, as they create an artificial color layer that can mislead the laser.
In short, the more color your skin has, the harder it is for the laser to safely and effectively do its job.
Laser hair removal treatments are gentle, but they can still irritate your skin. If you leave our office with plans to sit in the sun or climb into a tanning bed, you significantly raise your risk for skin damage, such as burns, irritation, swelling, and even hyperpigmentation.
If you must tan, we recommend waiting until your skin has healed (and ideally when you’ve finished your entire treatment plan).
Remember, laser hair removal isn’t just about eliminating hair — it’s about investing in the long-term health and appearance of your skin. Protecting that investment means staying diligent about sunscreen, especially on areas like your face, underarms, and legs that are often exposed.
Sun damage between sessions can slow your progress and cause uneven results. The better you care for your skin, the more successful each session will be.
It’s tempting to think a little color won’t hurt. But even mild tanning can make your skin extra sensitive to heat and light. Treating tanned skin increases your chances of irritation, dark or light patches, and sometimes scarring.
We may reschedule your appointment rather than risk it — and that’s a good thing. A delay is far better than permanent pigment damage.
If you’ve accidentally gotten sun, let Dr. Averilla know right away. We’ll assess your skin and help you decide when it’s safe to continue treatments.
We recommend avoiding direct sun exposure for at least 1-2 weeks before and after each session.
During that time, wear SPF 30 or higher, cover the treated areas with clothing when possible, and skip tanning beds or self-tanning products.
A tan might make your skin look radiant for a few days, but smooth, healthy, hair-free skin lasts far longer — and it’s worth a little patience.
Skip the tan before and after your laser sessions, follow our care instructions, and give your skin time to heal. You’ll be rewarded with results that look better, last longer, and keep your skin glowing safely.
Have more questions about laser hair removal best practices? Contact Love Your Body Medical Spa online to request an appointment with Dr. Averilla, or call today.
