Women experience many changes during and after gestation, including hair growth in previously unshaven areas.
Many breastfeeding mothers desire laser hair removal in order to stop unwanted hair growth, but many wonder whether or not laser treatment will work while breastfeeding.
Side Effects
Breastfeeding can bring many joys, but it can also bring drastic body transformations. Many breastfeeding women find their hair growing in places it never was before such as the stomach and lower back due to hormonal shifts, though this typically resolves itself within six months post-birth. Unfortunately, breastfeeding may leave women feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable; in these instances many seek laser hair removal treatment in order to eliminate unwanted hair growth – however this procedure should never be undertaken while breastfeeding; clinics will typically refuse this service before or shortly after giving birth.
Laser hair removal works by employing selective photothermolysis to heat and destroy hair follicles of the skin, with pigment in these follicles being absorbed by light energy, thus leading to their destruction. Many contraindications for this form of treatment exist, including sensitivities to sunlight or laser light exposure, hyperpigmentation (including suntans) and hypopigmentation; however breastfeeding has not been listed among them by leading expert sources as being contraindicated for treatment.
Laser hair removal may cause discomfort or itching in some women, though these symptoms tend not to last long-term. They should not interfere with breastfeeding and numbing creams can help – Lidocaine is one of the most widely used anesthetic ingredients and should be applied directly onto affected areas – although not directly onto breasts due to potential transference through milk and affect on baby.
As it’s essential to keep in mind, pregnancy-induced hormones can alter both skin pigmentation and hair follicle appearance, making it hard to predict growth of hair or sensitivities to certain forms of lighting. Therefore, laser treatments during breastfeeding cannot be recommended due to an unpredictable response from these hormones.
Pain
As a new mother, your priority should always be taking good care of your healthy baby. After giving birth and getting your little one settled in their crib, however, you may wish to treat yourself to laser hair removal treatment; but is it safe while breastfeeding?
Contrary to popular belief, laser hair removal does not cause harm when administered to breastfeeding mothers. No laser light or anesthetic used during treatments enters breast milk, so many medical practitioners offer this procedure as part of a breastfeeding moms’ care plan.
Note, however, that certain numbing creams used during laser skin treatments contain chemicals which may seep into your infant via breastfeeding and cause serious harm. To minimise risks to both you and your infant it would be wiser to wait until after weaning is complete before considering having laser skin treatments performed.
Laser treatments use Selective Photothermolysis to destroy hair follicles with laser light without harming surrounding tissues or skin, though it may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and other sources after treatment.
Pregnancy-related issues may not arise following laser hair removal treatments; while laser light may temporarily change skin pigmentation, this should not pose a major concern. I consulted several leading expert sources and have never found that breastfeeding would preclude having laser treatments done.
One risk associated with laser hair removal treatments is their potential to trigger hyperpigmentation of the skin, commonly referred to as “melasma.” This condition results from hormonal fluctuations, leading to darkening of skin or making invisible scars more obvious; breastfeeding mothers are particularly prone to this due to high estrogen levels present in their bodies.
No studies have been done regarding laser hair removal and breastfeeding, so there is no definitive answer to your question. Most doctors agree that the risk associated with laser hair removal treatments should be low if you can wait until after weaning before having any procedures performed.
Anesthesia
Women who are breastfeeding frequently find themselves struggling with excess hair growth on their faces and breasts due to hormones or genetics. To ensure breastfeeding can proceed uninterrupted, women often desire getting rid of this additional hair quickly so it won’t interfere with their routine – but is laser hair removal safe while breastfeeding?
Answer: Yes. To ensure a successful outcome for breastfeeding mothers, however, it’s essential that they find a clinic and technician that specialize in working with breastfeeding mothers. Experienced technicians know what steps need to be taken so as not to penetrate too deeply into the skin and cause internal organ damage; furthermore they will know how best to apply a cooling gel or numbing cream that won’t interfere when nursing her child.
Though there may be concerns regarding laser hair removal while breastfeeding, most experts agree it can be done safely provided the patient takes appropriate precautions. Since laser energy only penetrates several millimeters into the skin, very little energy will likely transfer to breast milk; additionally, any numbing or cooling gels used to manage discomfort won’t contain ingredients harmful for consumption by babies.
Consider also that laser hair removal does not negatively impact mammary glands but has an effect on hormones, as laser light does not pass through those areas but instead targets hair follicles below the surface of skin. Because this approach doesn’t directly hit prolactin or oxytocin which are essential components in producing milk production, prolactin or oxytocin levels remain undamaged by laser treatments allowing your body to continue pumping it out more easily.
But the hormone fluctuations may speed up hair regrowth after treatment has concluded; therefore, waiting until your baby has been born before commencing another course of laser treatments would be ideal. Also recommended: waiting until breastfeeding has stopped before commencing again.
Hormones
Laser hair removal is a noninvasive procedure that uses light energy to heat and destroy hair follicles, with potentially adverse side effects including skin irritation and swelling. While most can tolerate these side effects, pregnancy hormones can increase sensitivity; thus it is recommended that women delay getting laser treatment until after giving birth.
No matter your breastfeeding status, other forms of body hair reduction such as waxing or electrolysis should still be undertaken to reduce body hair. While these treatments have no known adverse impact on breastfeeding, it is strongly advised that before undertaking these procedures that you consult your physician beforehand as some chemicals used in these procedures may transfer through breast milk to your infant.
Another worry regarding pregnancy is hyperpigmentation of the skin, which may occur if hormones fluctuate too drastically during gestation. While this can appear to darken baby’s complexion more than it actually is, this issue should not pose serious problems and can easily be fixed with topical creams or natural solutions.
While not usually a major concern, some women experience their hair growth slowing significantly post-pregnancy. While this may be frustrating and disillusioning for new mothers who worry about their appearance, some are tempted to begin laser treatments immediately as soon as they find out they’re pregnant; it would be wiser to wait until after birth before starting treatments.
No studies exist regarding how laser hair removal impacts breastfeeding, so the best course of action would be postponing it until after your baby has arrived. You should ask your clinic for its policies regarding when you can resume treatments; most clinics will have clear and transparent policies and will notify you if you cannot resume sessions.
