Case Reports
1 July 2025
Early Access
https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2025.10295

Purpura following laser hair removal: a case report

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Laser hair removal, laser alexandrite, laser 755 nm, selective photothermolysis, purpura
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Authors

Kalliopi Papadopoulou
kalliopikpapadopoulou@gmail.com
Oasis Med One Day Clinic, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Eleni Paschalidou
Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Despoina Kosta
Oasis Med One Day Clinic, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Kalliopi Karamanolaki
Oasis Med One Day Clinic, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Laser hair removal (LHR) is a reliable and safe technique for the long-term reduction of unwanted hair. Common adverse effects involve momentary discomfort, transient erythema, and perifollicular edema, while the occurrence of purpura is infrequent. A 25-year-old Greek woman with skin type IV developed purpura on her lower extremities 48 hours after her first alexandrite laser session. A positive response to a laser hair removal provocation test was identified, aiding in diagnosis. Treatment with orally administered corticosteroids and antihistamines led to complete resolution within 7 days. Purpura following laser hair removal is a rare side effect, and its underlying cause remains unclear. Physician awareness of such adverse reactions can streamline patient care, reducing the need for unnecessary tests and offering improved management protocols.

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How to Cite



Purpura following laser hair removal: a case report. (2025). Dermatology Reports. https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2025.10295
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.