Many women are aware of the myths and facts relating to beauty treatments and pregnancy, but what about breastfeeding?
Most women are keen to get back to their usual routines following the birth of their baby, happy to be looking and feeling like their old selves.
So how safe are beauty treatments during breastfeeding?
Hair treatments
Hairfirst
Whether it’s colour, curling, bleaching or straightening – we all want to be sure we’re not inadvertently harming our baby.
The fact is, there’s very little information available when it comes to hair treatments and breastfeeding.
But the good news is, experts say it’s highly unlikely. In fact experts say it’s likely that only a tiny amount of chemicals would enter the bloodstream, making it highly unlikely to make its way to your breast milk.
So, book that appointment!
Hair Removal
While some women are happy to grab a razor and get down to business, some of us prefer to stay away from the blades and use topical products, such as depilatory creams.
Fortunately, topical products applied to the skin generally don’t absorb into the bloodstream, meaning it’s extremely unlikely to spread into your breastmilk.
There’s also nothing to suggest that electrolysis or laser hair removal has any impact on breastfeeding.
Hair loss
Many new mumsthe birth
However, this is known not to be true. Most women will return to their normal hair growth cycle after six months, regardless of their breastfeeding choices.
Fake tan
With sun safety at the top of everyone’s agenda, fake tan continues to grow in popularity. Self-tans work by temporarily staining the skin with the product’s active ingredient, dihydroxy acetate (DHA).
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any research on whether or not DHA reaches breastmilk or if it can impact the health of the baby.
If you are self-tanning, avoid using the product on your breast area, to ensure it doesn’t come into contact with your baby’s mouth.
Tattoos
The risk with tattoos isn’t the ink itself, but the risk of infection. Bacterial infections can be transmitted when the pigment is contaminated.
While the risk of infection is low at reputable tattoo parlours, it might be worth holding off until you’ve finished breastfeeding.
It’ll be something to look forward to!
