Why Do My Armpits Smell Stronger a Few Days After Laser Hair Removal?
A few days after your underarm session you lift your arm and think: that is not what I expected. Nobody warned you about this, and it is not a question most people ask out loud. The short answer: a stronger underarm smell in the first days after laser hair removal is usually temporary and has ordinary causes, and it does not mean the treatment went wrong.
Quick answer: Armpits can smell stronger for a few days after laser hair removal because deodorant is usually paused for 24 to 48 hours, treated skin is sensitive and washed less thoroughly, and sweat now sits on bare skin. Studies on the longer term mostly point the other way: odour often improves. Individual results vary.
"This is the question clients whisper," says Lana Zevnik, owner and specialist at Lana Skyn in Amsterdam Noord and Utrecht. "They send a message that starts with 'this is embarrassing, but...' Please never be embarrassed. I have heard it a hundred times, and I would much rather you ask me than quietly skip your next session."
Cosmetic information, not medical advice. Individual results vary, and your practitioner's assessment comes first.
Why do my armpits smell stronger after laser hair removal?
Quick answer: Usually a mix of everyday causes that all land in the same few days: no deodorant, irritated skin, a gentler wash, and sweat on bare skin.
What is going on | Why it can make you smell more | What helps |
No deodorant for 24 to 48 hours | Nothing is masking or slowing odour | Gentle rinse, fresh cotton clothes |
Sore, sensitive skin | You wash less thoroughly and skip anything that stings | Lukewarm water, mild fragrance-free cleanser, pat dry |
Heat, friction and tight clothing | Sweat and bacteria stay trapped against irritated skin | Loose, breathable fabrics |
Hair now shedding or gone | Sweat sits on the skin surface instead of on hair | Rinse after sweating |
Possible temporary change in sweating or skin bacteria | Reported in small studies (see below) | Mention it at your next session |
The first four are practical explanations, not published statistics. The last row is where research exists, and we come to it next. Lana Skyn's own aftercare sheet comes first, so follow what you were given at your appointment.
Is it only because I am not wearing deodorant?
Quick answer: Often, yes. Many clinics advise waiting 24 to 48 hours before deodorant, and longer if the skin is red or very sensitive.
One UK clinic guide suggests 24 to 48 hours, 48 if there is significant redness, and about 72 hours for naturally sensitive skin. The reason given is that deodorants contain alcohol and fragrance, and antiperspirants contain aluminium compounds, which may irritate freshly treated skin. That page cites no studies, so treat it as practical clinic guidance rather than evidence.
So the very thing that usually keeps odour under control is switched off, right when the skin is warm and slightly inflamed. That alone explains a lot.
"Day two without deodorant is the day everybody notices," says Zevnik. "My honest advice is boring: rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry, change your top, and wait for the skin to calm down. Do not cover it with a strongly perfumed spray because you are panicking. That is how a smell problem becomes a rash problem."
Can laser hair removal actually change how much I sweat or smell?
Quick answer: Possibly, and the evidence is small and mixed. One study reported more sweating after underarm laser; another reported less perceived odour. Both are limited, and they used different lasers.
More sweat: A prospective study in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (2010) measured underarm sweating before treatment, one month and one year after the last session of 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser hair removal. It reported a significant change in sweat activity that persisted at one year, and concluded the laser "can cause hyperhidrosis". The authors noted they did not examine the sweat glands under a microscope. The published abstract does not give the number of participants.
Less odour: A trial in the Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences (2020) followed 60 women (30 treated with an alexandrite 755 nm laser, 30 controls) at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Perceived sweat odour improved by about 63 percent after the last laser session. Most bacterial strains decreased in the laser group, and the authors concluded laser can alter the skin's microbial flora.
Different lasers, different measures, small groups: neither study says what will happen to you. It does mean that "laser changes sweat and bacteria in the armpit" is a reasonable thing to say, and that nobody can honestly promise exactly how your body responds. For how this relates to other post-session questions, see why one armpit can be smoother than the other after laser hair removal.
Does laser hair removal make underarm odour better in the long run?
Quick answer: For many people, yes. Underarm hair is a place where sweat and bacteria collect, and two studies point toward less odour once hair is gone.
A split-body study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Lanzalaco et al., funded by Procter & Gamble) in 30 men compared clipping, shaving and waxing with soap washing alone. Shaving and waxing improved the odour reduction from washing (about 57 and 75 percent versus 24 percent for soap alone), while clipping did not. That study was not about laser, and the men were all Caucasian, so it supports the idea that hair holds odour, not that laser reduces it. The 2020 alexandrite trial above is the laser evidence, and it is small.
Zevnik's view from the clinic: "The clients who message me about smell at session one are often the ones telling me at session four that they cannot believe how much less they think about their underarms. That is their experience, not a promise. A few tell me nothing changed."
What should I do in the first week to smell better?
Quick answer: Gentle hygiene, breathable clothes and patience. Do not scrub, do not use strong fragrance, and do not shave or wax over irritated skin.
Rinse with lukewarm water once or twice a day and after sweating. Pat dry; do not rub.
Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser only if your clinic allows it. Skip scrubs and antibacterial soaps.
Wear loose cotton and change after workouts or sweaty days.
Skip saunas, hot yoga and heavy workouts for 24 to 48 hours, as heat aggravates treated skin.
Freshen up with fragrance-free wipes if needed, patted on gently.
Restart deodorant when your clinic says so. Choose a fragrance-free, alcohol-free product and patch test on a small area first.
Do not wax or pluck between sessions. The laser needs the hair in the follicle. Shaving is generally fine once the skin has calmed down.
Take a photo of any bumps or redness, so you can tell the difference between settling and worsening.
Worried about bumps rather than smell? See red bumps after laser hair removal, which covers the same follicle reaction on the legs.
When is an underarm smell not normal after laser?
Quick answer: Contact the clinic if the smell comes with painful or pus-filled bumps, spreading redness, blisters, fever, or if it is still strong after a couple of weeks. A strong smell alone, with settled skin, is worth raising at your next session.
Contact Lana Skyn the same day if you notice:
Painful, yellow or pus-filled spots that look like infected follicles
Redness that spreads or gets worse after 48 hours
Blisters, crusting or oozing
Fever, or feeling unwell
Hives or swelling beyond the underarm (see allergic reaction after laser treatment; face, lip or tongue swelling or trouble breathing means call 112)
See your GP if your sweating or body odour changes strongly and stays changed, with no link to a recent session, or if you suspect a sweating condition. This is general safety advice, not a diagnosis. Send a photo and your session date on WhatsApp (+31 6 28 27 33 87) and we will tell you honestly what we think.
Related reading from Lana Skyn
Hair still there after several sessions? Read why you still have stubble after multiple laser sessions. Unsure how many sessions underarms need? See how long hair stays away after laser (Dutch).
What do clients say about this stage?
"'I almost cancelled because I felt I smelled worse, and then by the third session I realised I was sweating less in my top and not thinking about it,' is how one client put it to me," says Zevnik. "That is her experience. I will not promise you the same."
Key takeaways
A stronger underarm smell in the first days after laser is usually short-lived and has ordinary causes: paused deodorant, irritated skin, sweat on bare skin.
Waiting 24 to 48 hours before deodorant is common clinic advice; your own clinic's instructions come first.
Research is small and mixed: one Nd:YAG study reported more sweating, one alexandrite trial reported about 63 percent less perceived odour.
Hair holds odour, and for many people underarm smell improves once it is gone, but nobody can promise it.
Painful or pus-filled bumps, spreading redness, blisters or fever are not normal: contact the clinic.
Results vary, and a consultation decides whether laser suits you.
Frequently asked questions
1. Why do my armpits smell stronger after laser hair removal? Usually because deodorant is paused for 24 to 48 hours, the skin is sensitive and washed gently, and sweat sits on bare skin. It is typically temporary. Small studies also suggest laser can change sweating or skin bacteria, so mention it to your clinic.
2. How long does underarm smell last after laser hair removal? Often a few days, easing once deodorant is back and the skin has calmed. There is no published standard timeline. If it is still strong after about two weeks, or comes with painful bumps, contact your clinic.
3. Can I wear deodorant after underarm laser hair removal? Many clinics advise waiting 24 to 48 hours, longer if the skin is red or sensitive. Then choose a fragrance-free, alcohol-free product and patch test. Follow your own practitioner's instructions.
4. Does laser hair removal make you sweat more? Possibly in some people. A 2010 study of Nd:YAG laser reported increased underarm sweating that persisted at one year, while a 2020 alexandrite trial reported less perceived odour. The evidence is small and mixed, and results vary by person and device.
5. Does underarm laser hair removal reduce body odour? For many people it helps, because hair holds sweat and bacteria. A 2020 trial of 60 women reported about 63 percent less perceived odour after laser. It is not a guarantee, and it does not treat sweating conditions.
6. Where can I get underarm laser hair removal in Amsterdam or Utrecht? Lana Skyn offers laser hair removal at Amsterdam Noord (Bezaanjachtplein 281) and Utrecht (Amsterdamsestraatweg 346). Both clinics start with a consultation to assess your skin and hair type and confirm which areas are suitable.
Not sure what is normal? Send us a message
Message us on WhatsApp (+31 6 28 27 33 87) with a photo and your session date and we will tell you honestly what we think. Thinking about underarm laser hair removal? Book a consultation at Lana Skyn in Amsterdam Noord (Bezaanjachtplein 281) or Utrecht (Amsterdamsestraatweg 346).
About the author
Lana Zevnik is the owner and specialist of Lana Skyn in Amsterdam Noord and Utrecht. She was educated in Slovenia and holds a Dutch MBO diploma as a beautician (schoonheidsspecialist). She has completed Mesoestetic and Vitalease training, and she and her team keep training in the latest treatments and technologies. Meet the team.
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