Women often ask if laser hair removal can be performed while breastfeeding, knowing how important breast milk is for their baby’s development. They want to keep nursing as long as possible for both themselves and the baby.
Laser hair removal can be safely conducted for breastfeeding mothers, although they should take some precautions. Certain medicines (e.g. numbing creams) could potentially enter breast milk, so these must be avoided.
No Studies Show Risks
Women who have recently given birth can experience significant changes, from fluctuating hormones to an unexpected growth of hair in unexpected areas – often around their chest and breast area around the nipples. Some of this hair will fall out after several months but some might stick around, prompting some women to inquire whether laser treatment would be safe while breastfeeding.
Laser hair removal should not pose any direct dangers for breastfeeding mothers; however, any form of treatment could potentially diminish milk supply during gestation and it would be wise to consult an obstetrician prior to having laser treatments while expecting.
Laser treatments involve beams of light which penetrate the skin and destroy pigmented hair follicles without entering the bloodstream or creating any imbalance in an expecting mother’s milk supply. Other treatments, such as facelifts or certain types of x-rays may have similar results.
Women who breastfed during their pregnancies should also avoid treatments that aren’t safe, such as laser hair removal treatments and any hair removal creams containing chemicals that could harm their baby, such as using traditional shaving methods to eliminate unwanted hair growth until after giving birth when laser treatments can resume.
Unwanted hair growth during and after pregnancy is common, and many women want to remove it as quickly as possible. While regular shaving may not always be feasible, hair removal creams or laser therapy are viable solutions; the answer lies within licensed technicians that perform these treatments. But can these procedures still be undertaken while breastfeeding? Yes.
No Studies Show Side Effects
Unfortunately, no studies exist that demonstrate how laser hair removal affects breastfeeding infants; however, many breastfeeding mothers worry that laser treatments could harm their baby. Thankfully, however, the risk is low; laser treatments involve high-intensity light which heats and kills hair follicles selectively – the heat can produce reddening but should not burn an infant.
Concerns surrounding laser hair removal and breastfeeding generally center around the anesthetic used during treatment. There is some chance of contamination of breast milk with this anesthetic; although rare, some mothers don’t feel it’s worth risking an allergic reaction in themselves or their infant.
Some women notice thicker, downy hair growing during their pregnancies – especially around their belly, face and breasts (particularly around nipples). Most often this extra growth dissipates once hormone levels return to normal approximately six months post birth; alternatively it may remain as permanent feature.
Waxing and shaving may not be effective methods to remove thicker, darker hair from their bodies, leaving women feeling self-conscious during a newborn’s first months of life. This may become a significant distraction.
Pregnancy hormone changes may cause hyperpigmentation of the skin, especially among women of color who are particularly at risk. Before considering laser hair removal for darker skin tones, always check with your physician first.
Birthing a baby can be both exciting and life-altering. Some mothers choose to take advantage of laser hair removal’s low risk nature during breastfeeding to enjoy having less hair on their bodies; other opt to wait until after they have stopped nursing before seeking treatments.
No Studies Show Pain
Beginning motherhood can be exhausting and leave new mothers little time or energy for themselves, including taking time for self-care activities like laser hair removal. But once their bodies begin adjusting and they feel more like themselves again, they may begin thinking about investing in some self-care like laser hair removal as an aid to becoming their old selves again.
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive procedure that uses pulses of light to heat and destroy hair follicles on the skin. Treatment does not cause any collateral tissue damage and is safe even while breastfeeding; its only potential risk may be that nipples, chest or breasts become more sensitive during treatment sessions.
Some women may experience mild pain during a laser session. Most cases are tolerable and numbing creams can help alleviate discomfort. It is important to keep in mind that any medication taken to control pain could pass through mother’s milk and potentially harm baby; thus it would be wiser not to use anesthetics while breastfeeding.
Women who have undergone C-section should wait until their incision has completely healed before starting laser treatments in the pubic area, in order to minimize potential side effects that might interfere with healing. This will ensure that any potentially negative reactions of such treatments do not impede on healing processes.
Before opting for laser hair removal while breastfeeding, it’s advisable to speak to your obstetrician first. They will be best equipped to assess when your hormone levels have returned to normal and your body is ready for laser treatments.
Studies have not confirmed that breastfeeding affects laser hair removal results, however if your treatments seem to not last as long, this could be linked to breastfeeding.
Many laser hair removal centers do not accept breastfeeding clients for treatments and usually require a doctor’s note prior to proceeding with any procedures. This is due to chemicals released during laser hair removal treatments potentially entering breastmilk and potentially harming the baby; fortunately, however, this issue rarely arises and rarely causes problems.
No Studies Show Long-Term Effects
Pregnancy and breastfeeding often cause women to experience hair growth and skin changes as a result of elevated hormone levels, leading to hair growth and skin changes that need laser hair removal treatment. Although there have been no studies linking laser treatment with any adverse side effects or even guaranteeing it as safe – most reputable clinics avoid performing laser hair removal treatments on pregnant or breastfeeding women due to this lack of evidence proving its safety – some reputable clinics will only perform them under special circumstances such as precancerous situations such as surgery.
Many pregnant women choose alternative methods of hair removal during this time, such as shaving and waxing. Unfortunately, however, most of these practices should not be recommended due to potential complications; moreover, pregnant skin is particularly delicate during this period and more prone to bruises and redness than usual; furthermore, ingredients found in waxes and depilatories could potentially pass into breast milk and intoflict permanent harm upon baby.
Laser hair removal and other laser skin treatments use selective photothermolysis to heat and destroy hair follicles. This method does not harm mammary glands or reduce milk production, nor interfere with prolactin or oxytocin, both essential for breastfeeding.
Although laser hair removal should have no lasting adverse effects, it is still prudent to delay its implementation until after breastfeeding has ended. Instead, shaving or other conventional hair removal methods may work better until your child no longer requires breastfeeding support.
As a result, most women wait until after giving birth before getting laser hair removal done again. However, this procedure can still be completed prior to giving birth with consent from your physician and an acceptance of risk from you as the mother.
Many women fear the impact of laser hair removal treatments on their babies, yet most fears are unfounded. While it’s not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers to receive laser hair removal treatments during breastfeeding sessions, doing so does not pose any major health risks for either party involved. If you do decide to go ahead with it however, make sure your technician knows how to treat skin gently – this is particularly important during pregnancies and breastfeeding periods.
