Pregnancy brings many changes to a woman’s body, including unwanted hair growth. While no scientific evidence shows laser hair removal to be unsafe for breastfeeding women, many practitioners advise waiting until after delivery as a matter of caution.
Temporary methods of hair removal such as waxing are generally safe during pregnancy. Here is everything you need to know about laser hair removal while breastfeeding nhs.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution to permanently reduce unwanted body hair. This procedure typically causes no pain for most individuals; however, some may require topical anesthetic for additional comfort during their session.
Laser treatments target pigment in hair follicles to damage them and stop producing new hairs, leading them to produce thinner and lighter ones in their place. The process typically lasts anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the size of the area being treated; you may experience temporary reddening and swelling after just one or two sessions; this is normal and should subside quickly over time.
At your appointment, protective eyewear will be worn to shield your eyes from laser beam. A technician may apply numbing cream prior to your treatment, though this is not always necessary. While having laser treatment, some people report feeling what seems like rubber band snapping against their skin.
Laser treatment sessions may be necessary to permanently decrease unwanted hair. Women typically need between three and eight sessions spaced out approximately monthly; men usually need longer for larger areas like their back or chest; some with darker skin may need additional sessions than those with lighter skin.
Pregnancy can alter hormone levels, leading to increased hair growth in certain areas of the body. While laser hair removal during pregnancy may be possible, it’s generally not advised. If considering it anyway, speak with Dr. Michele Green about your pregnancy and health before considering treatment – she can create an individual plan designed just for you as well as offer alternative methods such as shaving hairs or razor cream to manage unwanted growth during this timeframe.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Pregnancy brings many changes to a woman’s body; some can be positive (such as stronger nails and “glowing” skin), while others, like extra hair growth, may not be desirable. Although depilatory creams and waxes are not safe during gestation, laser hair removal may provide an effective means to rid oneself of unwanted hair; however, waiting until post-birth before beginning treatment could reduce hormone-influenced hair growth.
Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin in hair follicles with laser light, heating it and dissolving hair follicles as it passes over skin. After treatment, significantly fewer follicles produce hair while those that do may produce finer strands than before.
When selecting a technician to conduct laser hair removal treatments, it’s crucial that they are certified by a reputable association. Ask friends and family members for referrals, or search reviews online; an experienced clinic will ensure your treatments are carried out accurately and that results last permanently.
Though laser hair removal will have no ill effect on breastfeeding babies, most medical experts advise waiting until after you have given birth before beginning or restarting treatments. Pregnancy hormones can alter hair growth patterns. Furthermore, it would be wiser not to treat either your nipple or breasts until breastfeeding has stopped altogether.
Some individuals may wonder whether or not laser hair removal while breastfeeding NHS is safe, and generally speaking the answer is yes; however, to maximize results it’s essential that a clinic with a good reputation, and using licensed technicians provide services. Furthermore, sun avoidance before and after treatments will protect the skin from sun damage while improving results.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe for Women Who Are Breastfeeding?
Questioning whether laser hair removal is safe for women breastfeeding frequently arises after experiencing unwanted extra hair growth during their pregnancy, due to hormonal fluctuations during gestation. While this is natural and commonplace, some women may find this discomforting and wish for it to be removed as soon as possible.
Pregnancy-related skin sensitivity makes laser hair removal more than suitable to avoid during gestation, and cosmetic treatments without consulting with your obstetrician may cause discomfort or an adverse reaction – this is especially true of waxing methods which may result in bruises and redness.
Pregnancy hormones can alter skin pigmentation, making laser treatment less effective. Furthermore, if a baby is nearby during treatment they could be exposed to laser light that could potentially pose risks like skin burns. Furthermore, this could compromise their immune system leading to infections or other conditions difficult to treat with medication.
Laser hair removal should not be performed on chest, breasts or nipples while breastfeeding as these areas are already vulnerable from breastfeeding and an additional treatment that might not be as effective may only make matters worse.
Many medical experts advise waiting six months postpartum before beginning laser hair removal treatments, so the body has time to recuperate and your normal levels of hormones to return. This should give your appearance more even and less hairy; providing more comfort. Your hair growth should return back to its previous levels about six months postpartum; until that point, traditional methods should suffice until laser therapy can be tried again.
Is Laser Hair Removal Risky for Women Who Are Breastfeeding?
Laser hair removal treatments should not be undertaken while breastfeeding; rather, shaving, waxing or depilatory creams may be better options until after you have finished breastfeeding your child. Your body needs time to recuperate after giving birth and hormones must adjust; often women experience unwanted hair growth several months postpartum before their bodies return to normal and hair growth begins again.
At this point in your pregnancy and breastfeeding journey, it is important to put all forms of hair removal on hold in order to focus on nurturing your newborn. Therefore, many clinics do not perform laser hair removal on women who are breastfeeding; although a select few offer such treatments after receiving a doctor’s note for added safety.
Laser hair removal poses no known risks to breastfeeding mothers; however, some sources recommend postponing it until you are no longer breastfeeding your infant. While others consider laser treatments safe during lactation, but advise waiting 4-6 months after your infant has stopped feeding before starting again with laser treatment.
To determine your optimal course of action, it is advisable to seek guidance from an experienced laser technician familiar with pregnancy and breastfeeding. They will be able to guide you through the procedure and indicate which areas can be treated using laser during breastfeeding.
Though some antibiotics and medications may increase your skin sensitivity to sunlight or laser light, breastfeeding has never been listed as a contraindication by leading expert sources. No studies have proven that visiting sunny beaches or blowing out birthday candles harm breastfeeding infants more than having laser hair removal treatment done on your scalp.
Laser treatments may cause minor side effects, including skin irritation or swelling, but these should only be temporary and should not affect nursing. As the laser used for hair removal does not reach mammary glands directly, this should not impact milk production or quality in any way.
