Women often notice an increase in hair growth, often in unexpected places. This phenomenon is likely the result of hormone changes and should be considered normal.
However, most reputable clinics won’t perform laser hair removal treatments on pregnant patients due to insufficient research on its effects on fetuses.
It’s safe
There have not been sufficient scientific studies conducted to establish that laser hair removal during pregnancy is safe. Thus, doctors typically advise their pregnant patients against this treatment as it could harm both themselves and the fetus in terms of long-term health risks. It’s also important to remember that lasers are powerful beams of light which could potentially harm skin injury; furthermore if one comes in contact with either of you there could also be long-term risks for both of you.
Pregnancy causes hormonal shifts that lead to increased hair growth. This is often visible on areas like the belly, chin and other previously hair-free regions of your body like armpits and underarms that previously didn’t experience much hair regrowth. Furthermore, many women notice their peach fuzz becoming thick and coarse during gestation – this can make managing these areas challenging if shaver’s can’t reach these spots for shaving or plucking.
Lasers work by targeting melanin (the pigment that gives your skin its color), to destroy hair follicles responsible for growth. If hormones darken your skin during gestation, this could confuse the laser, leading to burns or discolorations on its target area.
While some clinics do offer laser treatments during gestation, most medical professionals advise waiting until after you give birth before getting treatments done to ensure hormone levels return to normal and that skin can receive laser therapy effectively.
Consider waiting if you have incisions from cesarean birth or episiotomy surgery that could potentially be sensitive and haven’t fully healed yet; laser treatments would likely not be ideal in these instances.
If postpartum seems far away, there are other methods of hair removal during pregnancy that might suit better. According to hack and board-certified OBGYN Dr. Rachel Westbay as well as esthetician Shelley D’Aquino shave, wax, or pluck as safe and effective ways of eliminating unwanted hair growth. Plus these approaches take less time than shaving every few days, especially as your belly becomes bigger and it becomes harder to reach those hard-to-reach spots!
It’s not safe
Pregnant women should generally avoid laser hair removal treatments as there hasn’t been enough research done on its effects, and most experts we consulted suggest more temporary methods like shaving, waxing or tweezing instead during gestation.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy may cause changes to hair growth patterns that previously weren’t visible, however this should dissipate once your hormone levels return to their pre-pregnancy state after giving birth.
Pregnancy makes your skin particularly delicate, leading to increased blood supply and stretching of skin on your body, making laser hair removal harder to achieve a satisfactory, consistent result.
Laser treatments should never be conducted while pregnant as this increases your risk of hyperpigmentation, when skin turns darker due to hormonal fluctuations in your body. Laser treatments work best when there is contrast between skin color and hair color – something hyperpigmentation makes less likely.
If you decide to get laser hair removal while pregnant, the best way to ensure its safety is by selecting a brand with a comprehensive list of contraindications and warnings, like RoseSkinCo’s list. Also look for devices equipped with built-in guides that allow you to match hair and skin tone – most laser tools feature shade charts so that the settings fit your complexion precisely.
Considered pregnancy category B anesthetics used for laser treatments can increase your risk of scarring and other complications during treatment, so it may be wiser to opt for treatments using an anesthetic without Tetracaine as this could present risks during gestation.
It’s not effective
Pregnancy brings many physical changes, one being unexpected hair growth. You might notice an increase in hairs on areas that didn’t previously have them such as your belly and lower back due to pregnancy-induced high levels of androgen and estrogen that increase thickness of hair follicles; though harmless this change can be inconvenient or embarrassing at times – many women turn to laser hair removal but this should be avoided while pregnant.
One reason is due to possible danger for an unborn baby. Laser treatments use a highly concentrated beam of light to remove pigment from hair follicles; this process works by sending light through skin layers to melanin pigment, but during pregnancy hormone changes can increase melanin concentration, making treatment less effective and making melanin darker than expected.
Laser treatments work best when there is contrast between your hair color and that of your skin color, because light reflected off darker locks into melanin deposits in melanin cells, while when melanin levels nearer skin hue are present, treatment effectiveness decreases significantly; hence why reputable clinics will usually err on the side of caution and forego treating pregnant women during their treatment program.
Additionally, laser treatments during pregnancy may also be harmful for both you and your unborn baby if they come into contact with blood or breast milk supplies, since their light can travel from your skin directly into a fetus’ womb and potentially harm them in ways we have yet to fully understand. Most doctors tend to advise against laser treatments during gestation; instead shaving, waxing, or tweezing might provide better solutions until hormone levels return to normal postpartum.
It’s not right for you
Pregnancy can bring about drastic physical changes for women, including weight gain and mood changes as well as unexpected hair growth in places it usually doesn’t reside such as face, legs and bikini area.
Though hair growth may be normal during pregnancy, it doesn’t have to be something you live with; there are ways of eliminating unwanted hair growth permanently. Laser hair removal may be one of those options available – though due to potential risks it is generally not advised for pregnant women due to potential risks involved with laser treatments.
Laser hair removal should not be undertaken during gestation due to potential harm being done to your baby. Though no clinical evidence supports that belief, it would be prudent to wait until after giving birth before beginning treatments.
Laser hair removal should also be avoided while pregnant due to its potential discomfort on stretched and swollen skin, making multiple sessions particularly challenging in the third trimester. Furthermore, laser treatments require sitting for long periods of time which may not be comfortable given how pregnant bodies stretch already during gestation.
Experts caution that laser hair removal could have serious repercussions for both mother and baby. They believe the electric current used during certain types of electrolysis could negatively impact amniotic fluid’s electrical conductivity, potentially traveling through it to reach your baby’s head through placenta and placenta.
As such, traditional methods for hair removal during pregnancy such as shaving, waxing and plucking should be the go-to solutions; these less invasive options won’t interfere with hormones or baby development. Before making any major decisions regarding postpartum care after you give birth it is always advisable to consult your OB/GYN first – they will help determine when hormone levels have returned to normal and when laser treatments may resume safely.
