Laser Hair Removal During Pregnancy
Your body releases extra hormones when you are pregnant. Higher levels of androgen and estrogen can cause extra hair to grow on your body, especially in the third trimester. You can notice hair growing on your neck, belly, breasts, and arms. This type of hair growth is quite natural and automatically goes away after the baby arrives. Now, this estrogen-induced hair growth may compel you to wonder whether you should schedule an appointment for laser hair removal as an alternative to waxing or shaving. The important thing to understand here is that although laser hair removal is generally thought of as a safe procedure, doctors usually advise to avoid it as there are no studies that prove it’s safe for both mother and the baby. There’s not enough research on it and doctors typically err on the side of caution.
Other reasons to wait until your postpartum
A common change that can happen during your pregnancy is the darkening of your skin – a condition called hyperpigmentation. According to doctors, laser hair removal is more effective when there’s a contrast between the color of your hair and the color of your skin. Treatment might be less effective if hyperpigmentation has made the color of your skin closer to the color of your hair. In addition to this, pregnancy disrupts your normal hair growth cycle and you could need as many as six treatments for laser hair removal to be effective. There’s also the question of skin sensitivity. Pregnancy causes an increase in blood supply throughout your body and also stretches out the skin on the abdomen and breasts. Having laser hair removal treatments while your skin is in such a tender state can be uncomfortable.
Can laser hair removal affect getting pregnant
There’s no scientific evidence as of now that laser hair removal can affect your chances of getting pregnant. Check with your doctor before getting a laser hair treatment if you are trying to get pregnant. Reduction of hair growth typically takes several treatments and it’s quite possible you could undergo treatment before you realize you are pregnant, exposing you to risks associated with the procedure such as blistering, skin irritation, and changes to your skin’s color.
Laser hair removal alternatives
Other methods like waxing, shaving, and threading are generally considered safe during pregnancy. You may need help reaching out to some areas to remove unwanted hair as your body’s size and shape change. If you do decide to take help from a dermatologist, make sure that the said person is licensed to perform that service and the facility is clean. While depilatory creams are considered to be safe for use during pregnancy, there are no studies that prove chemicals like thioglycolic acid and barium sulfide powder are totally harmless for the mother and the baby. Food and drug administration has received some reports of painful skin reactions associated with these creams and it’s a good idea to always discuss it with your doctor before going through any such procedure.
