Laser hair removal treatments have not been scientifically verified as safe for pregnant women, so it would be prudent to forgo these procedures while trying to conceive.
Laser treatments work best when there is an obvious contrast between skin and hair colors, however pregnancy often darkens skin, hindering results of treatments.
Risks
Most reputable laser hair removal clinics will not treat pregnant women for laser hair removal treatments, for good reason. With life-saving procedures such as heart surgeries or dialysis treatments, there must be sufficient studies done on them before their use becomes safe during gestation and birth; but with elective beauty treatments there just isn’t enough proof that they’re safe enough.
While you’re pregnant, it is also wise to exercise extreme caution with chemical-based hair removal methods like shaving, waxing and creams that dissolve hair follicles. While there have been no reported risks to your unborn baby from these harsh chemicals, they can still irritate and discolor your skin, potentially contributing to hormone-driven hyperpigmentation such as Melasma or post inflammatory pigmentation from acne breakouts.
One aspect to keep in mind when planning laser treatments during pregnancy is their effect on stretched and swollen skin. Since pregnant women tend to be more sensitive, any burn from laser treatment could potentially cause complications and infections which could impact milk production negatively.
Electrolysis should also be avoided while pregnant for similar reasons. The treatment involves inserting a wire into your hair follicles, where an electric current then moves to destroy them. Some experts speculate that amniotic fluid could conduct electricity and harm your baby during this procedure.
Most pregnant women will experience increased hair growth during their gestation period due to high levels of androgen and estrogen associated with gestation. While this extra hair may seem bothersome at the time, it typically disappears within months after giving birth as hormone levels return to their original levels.
So if you’re considering laser hair removal or other temporary options to treat unwanted hair, we advise waiting until after giving birth and once your hormones have returned to their regular levels. In the interim, less risky solutions such as shaving, plucking, or waxing might work better; just be sure to keep in communication with your obstetrician as to when to resume treatments!
Side Effects
Pregnancy can bring about dramatic hormonal shifts that alter a woman’s body in numerous ways. She may gain weight, lose bladder control and experience hair growth where none existed before, particularly during the third trimester. The extra hair growth is caused by elevated levels of androgen and estrogen produced naturally during gestation; once delivered it should subside.
If a woman becomes pregnant while undergoing laser hair removal treatment, she should contact her clinic as soon as possible. Most will be more than willing to postpone her course until after giving birth; alternative methods of hair removal that can safely be utilized during gestation may also be an option.
Although laser treatment does not appear to affect an unborn baby, Westbay reports that many reputable clinics still will not treat pregnant women due to unknown side effects – including skin burns and hyperpigmentation – that might impact its development during gestation. Due to lack of clinical studies on this topic, pregnancy should still be avoided at any cost during this stage.
Pregnancy hormones may also contribute to darkened hair and skin pigmentation, making laser treatments less likely to work effectively. Westbay advises pregnant women looking to undergo laser hair removal that the best way to ensure safe laser treatments during their gestation period is using other forms of hair removal such as shaving, waxing and tweezing as these are safe methods. However, for best results it is advised that these techniques be utilized alongside a quality razor and proper techniques to avoid injuring skin cells. If a woman must undergo laser hair removal during her pregnancy, she should always use a licensed and experienced laser technician who can ensure both her own safety as well as that of her unborn fetus. This will protect both.
Recommendations
Pregnancy can bring many physical changes, including the unexpected growth of hair in places it never usually grows. This increase is usually caused by high levels of androgen and estrogen circulating during gestation, and should be completely normal. Unfortunately, many pregnant women wish they could remove this extra hair through laser hair removal while expecting. Unfortunately, no enough information exists on its effect on a growing fetus to recommend laser treatments as a viable treatment option; hence it should generally be avoided.
Healthcare providers typically advise expecting women to opt for safer hair removal methods like shaving, waxing and plucking while expecting. With these approaches the risk of an allergic reaction is much reduced and will not negatively impact chances of conception.
Laser hair removal uses a concentrated beam of light that penetrates into the target pigment to heat it and damage or destroy the follicle, eventually stopping its growth and stopping further hair growth. When performed by a licensed technician, it’s generally considered safe; however, due to lack of research on potential risks to unborn babies most doctors won’t offer treatments until postpartum.
To ensure optimal safety, it is recommended that pregnant women wait three months postpartum before engaging in laser hair removal, although sessions may still need to be skipped until your hormone levels have stabilized. Depilatory creams containing chemicals like thioglycolic acid and barium sulfide should also be avoided, since they contain chemicals which could pose risks during gestation.
Electrolysis, which utilizes electrical current to destroy hair follicle roots and stop further hair growth, should also be avoided, as its risks to an unborn child could be minimal but best practice suggests taking no risks while trying to conceive.
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Pregnancy can bring many physical changes, from hormone surges and changes to your skin thickness and texture to unexpected areas of hair growth such as your stomach and breasts. You may also find an increase in hair shedding.
Most reputable clinics do not provide laser hair removal services during pregnancy due to unknown long-term effects, while depilatories and waxes contain harsh chemicals that could potentially harm an unborn fetus and have negative side effects for pregnant women. Instead, if hair growth bothers you during this timeframe, consider temporary solutions like shaving, plucking or waxing as alternatives for temporary relief.
Electrolysis is another hair removal option, though pregnant women should generally avoid galvanic electrolysis due to the potential risks it poses for the unborn child. Galvanic electrolysis should be avoided due to it potentially shocking the amniotic membrane and potentially endangering its health during labor.
Electrolysis poses both safety and health risks during pregnancy, with potential burns to skin caused by hormonal fluctuations contributing to more serious scarring and slower healing time for expectant mothers’ skin as a whole as well as higher susceptibility to hyperpigmentation.
After giving birth, depending on your individual situation and hormone balance, laser hair removal treatments may resume after taking a break postpartum. But before scheduling any sessions it would be prudent to wait until hormones have returned to their regular levels before scheduling any more.
