Pregnancy hormones halt hair growth into its resting stage known as telogen, leading to thicker locks that require additional laser treatments for effective long-term results.
Due to pregnancy’s increased sensitivities, it is generally advised that laser treatment be postponed until after giving birth and resumed as sessions.
Preparation
Pregnancy brings with it many hormonal shifts for women and can have an impactful influence on all aspects of the body, including hair growth. Many pregnant women experience downy hair growth on their belly, chin, buttocks, breasts (often near their nipples). Although most of this will dissipate by six months postpartum, waiting until then to seek laser treatments can be beneficial.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding should usually be seen as an ideal time to put off cosmetic procedures as hormone changes could leave your skin more sensitive, increasing its susceptibility to damage from laser treatment. Furthermore, hair grows back gradually during each session so the ideal results from a laser treatment may require multiple sessions before noticeable change is seen.
The first trimester of pregnancy is an especially dangerous time to undergo laser hair removal treatments as this period is when fetuses are most vulnerable to external exposure, including heat from lasers. Other treatments involving heat or chemicals, like waxing and hair-dissolving creams can also pose risks during this stage.
Pregnancy causes her immune system to decrease significantly, making her more prone to infections such as skin burns. If this happens to you during your gestation period, healing times could take much longer and you could develop scarring or other complications which might need attention.
Hormones also play an integral part in altering the rate at which your hair follicles grow, with pregnancy often prompting dormant follicles producing unwanted hair to “spring to life” unexpectedly and become difficult to treat – one reason laser hair removal cannot be used as a stand-in treatment method.
Laser hair removal has been shown to be safe during pregnancy, however it’s best to wait until after giving birth and your hormone levels have returned to normal before beginning treatments. Meanwhile, traditional methods like shaving and waxing may still provide effective hair-removal solutions.
Note that it is best not to use hair-dissolving products while pregnant or breastfeeding due to the risk of chemicals absorbed through your skin into the bloodstream and reaching the fetus. Also, laser treatments during breastfeeding could increase core temperature, potentially endangering milk supply. Laser hair removal treatments should not be undertaken if you have open wounds from an episiotomy or cesarean section delivery – instead you should wait until after these wounds have fully healed before proceeding with laser hair removal treatments.
Treatment
Women seeking permanent solutions for unwanted hair often turn to laser treatment as an option, though its safety during pregnancy remains controversial and experts often advise deferring it until after delivery.
Laser treatment during pregnancy has not been proven dangerous; however, more research needs to be conducted before making a definitive determination about its safety or otherwise. Due to difficulties testing laser treatments on multiple women simultaneously during gestation and due to concerns that highly concentrated laser beams could harm an unborn baby, many doctors advise postponing any elective treatments until after mother and baby have delivered.
Experts typically suggest waiting three months postpartum before seeking any laser treatments, when hormone levels should have returned to their pre-pregnancy levels. If specific areas of concern arise for a new mom earlier than expected, treatments could begin sooner.
Though laser treatments during pregnancy may technically be safe, they’re generally not considered appropriate for breasts and nipples during the third trimester due to increased blood supply making these areas more sensitive and making laser treatments uncomfortable for some women. Furthermore, it may be harder for sensors on laser machines to give accurate readings.
As well, it’s wise to avoid chemical-based hair removal treatments while pregnant, given their known toxicities that could potentially interfere with natural bodily processes and harm an unborn baby. Electrolysis should also be avoided because this involves sending an electrical current through hair follicles; there have been concerns this could damage amniotic fluid surrounding fetuses.
If you prefer permanent solutions, laser treatments are best done prior to becoming pregnant. That way, you will gain more insight into what to expect during the process and can anticipate any potential complications that might arise from it. Otherwise, more traditional hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing or plucking remain viable options that don’t involve chemicals or intense heat exposure.
