Women experience routine, everyday situations quite differently during pregnancy. Hair removal is one of them. Common hair removal methods like waxing and shaving may become a challenge due to an increased intolerance to pain and the expectant mother’s growing belly.
For this reason, some women might be tempted to try laser hair removal, which is more comfortable and yields longer-lasting results.
This article explores whether laser hair removal is safe during pregnancy and what alternative solutions to consider.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe During Pregnancy?
Laser hair removal is generally not recommended during pregnancy. Most doctors agree it’s best to postpone the procedure until after giving birth. Due to hormonal changes and sensitivity that occur during pregnancy, it’s best to avoid any product or procedure that isn’t proven to be completely harmless to the mother and the fetus.
Doctors cite several reasons for avoiding laser hair removal during pregnancy. The most important is the lack of data that shows the procedure is either safe or unsafe. Without definitive proof, doctors recommend waiting until the mother’s hormonal balance is restored. This usually takes three to six months following childbirth.
Note: Learn how hormonal imbalances occur and how they affect our health.
What Happens If You Get Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant?
Laser hair removal during pregnancy increases the risk of side effects and ineffective treatment.
1. Increased Pain
During pregnancy, the woman’s body and skin are highly sensitive due to increased hormone levels and blood supply. As the baby grows, the mother’s skin also stretches, becoming tender and more susceptible to pain. Laser hair removal experts often apply a numbing cream on the treated area, but during pregnancy this may not provide sufficient pain relief.
2. Hyperpigmentation
Hormone fluctuations during pregnancy increase the risk of hyperpigmentation that sometimes occurs with laser treatments. It is recommended to wait at least six months after pregnancy and/or breastfeeding to allow the hormones to return to normal levels before laser therapy.
3. Less Effective Treatment
The hair has three different stages of growth. During laser hair removal, the laser device ideally targets the hair in its active growth stage. However, not all hairs are in the same stage at the same time. For this reason, patients needs several laser hair removal treatments administered in carefully timed intervals to effectively remove all hairs during their active phase.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy disrupt hair growth cycles, making them unpredictable. Adequate timing of laser hair removal treatments becomes difficult, and the treatments are less effective.
4. Scarring and Blistering
Laser hair removal is considered safe for the general population, but like most cosmetic procedures it may cause side effects. Scarring and blistering are rare laser hair removal side effects that typically occur when an inexperienced, non-licensed provider administers the treatment.
It’s best to postpone the procedure until after childbirth to avoid the unnecessary risk of scarring and blistering during pregnancy.
To avoid the risk of severe side effects altogether, choose a licensed laser hair removal professional who will assess your medical history and current state of health to determine whether the procedure is right for you.
What Hair Removal Methods Are Safe Alternatives to Laser When Pregnant?
Most women have used other hair removal methods before discovering laser, and they can go back to them during pregnancy to avoid the above-mentioned risks. These laser alternatives don’t provide the convenience and longevity of laser treatments, but they do remove unwanted hair effectively.
Shaving
Shaving involves using a razor to cut off unwanted hair. First, apply some shaving gel or soap on the target area. Then pass the razor over the hairs, moving in the opposite direction of growth. This method carries a risk of cuts and infection, so it is important to handle the razor carefully, especially if it is new and very sharp. The downside of shaving is the short duration of results because the hairs are cut at the skin’s surface, not pulled from the root.
Waxing
Waxing involves using wax or waxing strips to pull the hair from the root, which makes this method longer-lasting than shaving, but also more painful. Waxing can be done at home, but it is safer and more convenient when performed by a cosmetic professional.
Plucking
Plucking involves pulling the hair out from the root with tweezers. Because hairs are pulled one by one, this method is not suitable for large areas, such as the legs. Women usually use tweezers to pluck unwanted hairs around the eyebrows or above the lips.
Hair Removal Creams
Hair removal creams remove hair just below the skin’s surface, providing results that are just slightly longer lasting than after shaving. The advantage of depilatory creams is that they are completely painless and easy to use. Apply a hair removal cream on the target area, wait several minutes (as instructed on the packaging label), and remove the cream and hairs with a spatula or cloth.
Epilation
Epilation involves the use of an electric, handheld device that pulls the hairs from the root with small mechanical tweezers. This method is painful, but the results can last for a month.
Laser Hair Removal During Pregnancy FAQ
The questions and answers below put the risks of laser hair removal during pregnancy into perspective. Patients need not panic even if they have the treatment during this sensitive period.
Can Laser Hair Removal Affect Fertility?
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive cosmetic treatment that targets hair follicles just beneath the skin’s surface. The laser doesn’t penetrate deeply enough to reach reproductive organs, and it doesn’t have the capacity to affect fertility.
What If I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant and Had Laser Hair Removal?
Because the hair removal laser doesn’t reach far below the skin’s surface, the treatment is unlikely to harm the fetus. However, healthcare providers recommend discontinuing further laser treatments because of a lack of studies that confirm their safety during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Women experience significant hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and these can cause increased hair growth on the legs, arms, chin, belly, and even breasts. As tempting as laser hair removal sounds, enough indicators show it’s not a good idea during pregnancy. Seek alternative hair removal treatments until this sensitive period is over and your hormones stabilize.
