Miami, Florida-based professionals in cosmetic medicine advise clients to wait on laser hair removal if they are pregnant.

Laser Hair Removal and Questions about Pregnancy Safety

Many women are overjoyed with the changes in their bodies during pregnancy and many women feel much more vulnerable and uncomfortable in their own skin. A person who is carrying a child should be given as much support as possible during this time of both physical and emotional change.

There are many ways that a pregnant person can pamper themselves or make themselves feel more confident. Because of the hair growth that sometimes comes with pregnancy hormones, hair removal may be one of the procedures that a person would consider.

But is it safe? Read more about it below.

Pregnancy and Hair Growth

Hair growth is a three step process. The hair is formed and begins to grow, continues its growth in its second stage, then the hair stops growing and falls out. Pregnancy hormones prevent the final stage, and so hair grows thicker and longer than normal and can sometimes grow in unexpected places. 

Hair can appear on:

• The face
• The neck
• The breasts
• The belly

This can obviously be uncomfortable and the person may consider trying some kind of hair removal procedure. There are many different methods of getting rid of unwanted hair, but many of them are not really safe for a woman and her unborn child.

Methods of Hair Removal

Over the entire recorded history of humanity, beauty rituals have often involved removing hair from certain areas of the body. Because it has such a long history, there are many different ways to do it.

The bulleted list below will share the different methods of hair removal and their level of safety during pregnancy.

• Depilatory Creams: These are the chemical lotions that remove hair by dissolving it. These can be irritating to the skin and the chemicals in these creams (barium sulfide and calcium thioglycolate) could potentially be harmful during pregnancy. The sharp smell alone could be bad for the sensitive stomach that sometimes accompanies pregnancy.
• Electrolysis: This method sends an electric current through the individual hair follicles, destroying them and getting rid of the hair permanently. This method can also cause skin irritation, but the electrical current could be a problem for the fetus since the electricity travels through the body.
• Laser Hair Removal: This uses a highly concentrated beam of light to target dark hairs. It is a generally safe procedure, but should not be used by everyone. It is more effective on lighter skin with darker hair. The light radiation is converted to heat, burning the hair inside the follicle.  It can cause skin irritation and burning. There has been very little research on pregnancy and laser hair removal, so most professionals say that it is better to avoid the procedure while you are pregnant.
• Plucking: Pulling the hair out by the roots, while painful, is an inexpensive and effective procedure. Because it involves physical removal and no chemicals or radiation, it is considered completely safe during pregnancy.
• Shaving: This is the most common method of hair removal and is likely the cheapest and least painful. It is completely safe to shave during pregnancy, although it may prove to be a more difficult task in the last trimester. It is still the easiest, most readily available choice.
• Threading: This is another physical form of hair removal using threads to pluck hairs. It is an effective treatment and completely safe for mother and baby.
• Waxing: Though it may be irritating to the skin, waxing is generally considered a safe means of hair removal during pregnancy. You might consult a physician before booking an appointment, though.

Are Laser Treatments Safe For a Pregnant Person?

Though there have been one or two studies of pregnant women and reactions to laser hair removal, there is really not enough information out there to determine whether or not it is potentially harmful. There are certain types of radiation during the procedure and it is unknown what effect this could have on the fetus.

The hormone levels during pregnancy can also make the skin more sensitive to intense light and immune suppression also makes any sort of blistering or injury slower to heal.  It is always better to be safe than sorry, so most medical professionals will recommend waiting until after the baby is born to have any sort of laser treatment. In 6 months, the hair growth will most likely begin returning to normal, and the new mom and resume a routine. 

About C10 Wellness & Rejuvenation

Located in Miami, FL, C10 Wellness & Rejuvenation offers esthetics and wellness treatments that are sure to make you feel like a complete 10. Call today for a free consultation or book online.