Is Laser Hair Removal Safe While Pregnant
Hollywood movies sell pregnancy as one of the most beautiful things in the world and a key step in a woman’s life. Sure, it is significant and life-changing, and each woman will live her pregnancy differently. What those movies tend to forget is that many things suddenly become off game when you are pregnant: some foods, some vegetables, drinking, exercising too intensely, etc. What about laser hair removal though? Is laser hair removal safe while pregnant? Because even what you do with your skin can be disrupted by a pregnancy.
What Should I Do Before My First Laser Hair Removal Treatment
There are a few important steps you should follow to maximise the effectiveness of each laser hair removal treatment.
For best results, we ask you to:
- Shave the area that is to be treated 12-24 hours before your appointment
- Exfoliate the skin no less than 3 days before treatment
- Avoid fake tan for 2-4 weeks before your session to prevent undesired outcomes such as burns
- Do not apply moisturiser, body oil, deodorant, and perfume before your appointment
- Do not pluck, wax, or epilate the treatment area for 4 weeks
- Minimise sun exposure two weeks before your appointment
If you have any concerns or queries leading up to your appointment, dont hesitate to give us a quick call. Wed be happy to answer any of your questions no matter how trivial you think they might seem.
Excess Hair During Pregnancy
If youve noticed excess hair growth during pregnancy, youre not alone. Especially in the third trimester, pregnant women can notice hair in areas it has never appeared before, including the arms, breasts, neck, face, and belly. This phenomenon is caused by naturally high levels of androgen and estrogen associated with pregnancy and is completely normal.
But dont worry the extra hair growth is temporary. Most women find that the excess hair is gone within three months after the baby is born.
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Pregnancy And Excess Hair
Some women find that their hair is the best it has ever been while they are pregnant this is because during pregnancy you are not shedding as many hairs, making your hair feel fuller and thicker. On average women will lose approximately 100 hairs a day and these hairs fall out naturally, usually when you are bushing or shampooing your hair and these are replaced by new hair growth. Hair growth undergoes 3 cycles, anagen catagen and finally telogen however during pregnancy the anagen phase is prolonged, this is due to the increase in estrogen levels. Some women also find that their hair texture changes, for example curly hair may become straighter.
Unfortunately while the hair on your head may be at its best, an increase in hair growth on the body, on areas such as the face, chest, back, stomach and breasts is very common and all of this is due to the erratic hormonal changes. Even if you have had laser hair removal treatments prior to becoming pregnant you may experience an increase in hair growth however this will be new hair growth that has been stimulated as a result of changes in hormones and not the hairs that were destroyed. Usually this increase in hair returns to normal after delivery and once all of the hormones have balanced and returned to pre-pregnancy levels.
What Is Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is exactly what it sounds likeremoving hair with a laser. Most commonly, people get this noninvasive treatment on their face, armpits, legs, pubic area, and trunk. And its pretty popular. Prior to the pandemic, over one million people got laser hair removal in 2019. It works by using highly concentrated light, or lasers, to remove hair.
The pigment in the follicle is targeted, says Mary P. Lupo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Lupo Center for Aesthetic & General Dermatology in New Orleans. When it absorbs the lasers energy, it generates heat that permanently reduces the follicle. This inhibits hair from growing, decreasing or eliminating it in the treated area.
However, its not a one-and-done kind of treatment. It only affects hairs that are in an active stage of growth. Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC explains, It requires multiple treatments, and works best on darker, thicker hairs. When the hair grows back, it will be lighter, thinner, and sparser.
Laser hair removal also slows down hair growth, but its not necessarily a permanent solution. Some people require maintenance treatments periodically.
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Will Pregnancy Disqualify Me From Laser Hair Removal
Its a well-known fact that many women experience an increase in hair growth and even new, unwanted hair growth during pregnancy. This is primarily due to a sharp rise in hormones, which can both trigger new hair growth and prevent hair from shedding as it normally would. This undesired hair during pregnancy leads many mothers-to-be to wonder whether they may be eligible for laser hair removal. At Cedarburg Family Wellness & Aesthetics Center in Cedarburg, WI, triple board-certified physician Dr. Janice Alexander believes that women deserve to feel comfortable, confident, feminine, and sexy at every stage of life. However, Dr. Alexander and her team are also committed to the highest standards in safety and medicine to keep you and your growing baby healthy. Keep reading for a closer look at laser hair removal during pregnancy, including whether it is considered safe and why or why not.
Has Your Teenage Son Or Daughter Been Asking For Laser Hair Removal
Most moms remember when their daughters asked if they can start shaving. It can be an emotional moment thinking, shes growing upand once she starts, she wont stop.
However, there is a right time for everything, and these days, just a few years after asking about shaving, many daughters are asking about getting laser hair removal. The idea of saving all that time that it takes to shave, not having to worry about razor burn or shaving bumps and getting rid of unwanted body hair permanently is a very attractive idea at any age.
Its not just daughters, either. With the progressive technology of laser hair removal, many teen boys are interested in getting treated for body hair, too .
But when the kids start asking about the treatment, some parents wonder if its safe. Are the kids too young? What are the risks involved? And will laser hair removal even be effective on such young skin? Heres some info.
How Young is Too Young for Laser Hair Removal?
Professionals Only
With laser hair removaleven when its an adult being treatedmake sure the individual operating the laser is a certified, professional specialist. So of course, do your research and check into the laser hair removal technicians first. Look at their reviews and experience, and perhaps even meet them. Its crucial to make sure the specialist treating your daughter or son knows exactly what he or she is doing, since laser hair removal done incorrectly can result in serious burns and damaged skin.
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Can Pregnant Women Undergo Laser Hair Removal
Whether planned or unexpected, pregnancy brings a lot of changes into ones life. If you are going through a laser treatment, you may wonder whether your treatment will be affected. You may also experience unusual hair growth during your pregnancy, tempting you to try permanent hair removal. Can pregnant women undergo laser hair removal though?
San Diego Cosmetic Laser Clinic
If you are unsure if you are ready to schedule a treatment, schedule a consultation with our specialists and discuss your options for hair removal methods during pregnancy. We will let you know if laser treatments are right for you or not. Dr. Parvin Mani will not perform laser treatments on pregnant or nursing women, but we may be able to point you toward a treatment that will work in the interim.
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Laser For Skin While Pregnant
During pregnancy, increased hormone levels are often responsible for natural changes in the body including spots, broken capillaries and pigmentation. At Australian Skin Clinics we offer a range of different skin treatments for our clients including laser skin rejuvenation for abnormal pigmentation and redness, laser therapy for veins, and Fraxel laser procedures for ageing skin.
However, experts advise that laser skin treatments are not suitable for those expecting and could lead to permanent colour discolouration. For aesthetic skin concerns, we recommend waiting six months to a year post-pregnancy before seeking treatment, as many of these symptoms will fade on their own over time.
There are other treatments that can be tailored to suit expecting mothers. Visit your local clinic for a free consultation and find out what treatments are suitable for you during any phase of your life.
Hair Growth During Pregnancy
If you notice hair growing on your body in some unusual places, such as your stomach, you neednt worry about it! In fact, its very common to find downy, light hair growing in some unexpected places during this exciting time of your life.
This condition is known as Hirutism and many women may experience it during their pregnancy because they have higher than normal levels of androgen in their bodies, which can trigger Hirutism.
You might even notice your body hair getting darker too because this can happen due to heightened levels of melanin. This is the pigment in our bodies that is responsible for our natural colouring.
The excess body hair is typically found around the stomach, nipples and the face among other unusual areas and it can also cause your hair and nails to grow too. But, dont despair the good news is that this extra hair wont stay forever and will typically disappear around six months after your delivery. However, if it doesnt go away or is getting thicker or darker past this point, its a good idea to follow up with your doctor.
However, if you are concerned about the appearance of this excess hair and would like to remove it then waxing, shaving, plucking or threading are usually safe hair removal options for pregnant women.
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Is It Safe To Get Laser Hair Removal During Pregnancy
If youre pregnant or trying to conceive, the question of whether or not something is safe may be a frequent flyer in your mind. And just like the murky, pregnancy-safe waters where things like tea tree oil reside, when it comes to getting laser hair removal while pregnant, theres just not enough research to definitively confirm its safety one way or the other.
Whenever youre faced with a conundrum such as this, the best course of action is usually to practice an abundance of cautionjust in caseand speak with your healthcare provider.
Every pregnancy is different. Be sure to consult with a healthcare provider about your circumstances if you have any questions about getting laser hair removal while pregnant.
Is It Safe To Undergo Laser Hair Removal Treatment During Pregnancy
The hormonal changes during pregnancy may lead to excess hair growth around your belly, breasts, face, and other places . While hair could be removed in various ways, several women prefer a permanent method. Laser hair removal is something that has gained popularity but drawn flak over safety concerns. How good or bad is it when you are carrying a baby?
MomJunction brings you some important information on laser hair removal while pregnant, and the dos and donts associated with it.
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Concerns Of Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant
Although laser hair removal might be the most obvious choice earlier in life, during pregnancy, there are a ton of aspects you ought to understand before making a decision.
- A basic laser hair removal treatment can take anywhere from 6 months to a year. This would mean that the sessions will continue in the later stages of your pregnancy as well. Not only will your body have trouble moving around and staying in a position that is required for the treatment, but the sensitivity of your skin and other areas of the body will be higher, too. This could cause you irritation or discomfort during the treatment.
- Undergoing laser removal in the major areas of breasts and bikini regions can be irritating during pregnancy since these are the most sensitive areas at this time. Some redness or swelling could also occur due to the treatment.
- Since the laser rays are powerful to be able to destroy hair follicles, their administration in the areas of lower abdomens and thighs could induce cramps and make it quite painful to continue.
- The changed hormone levels lead to an excessive production of melanin. This darkens the skin further, making it more sensitive, which ends up making the laser treatment painful and not as effective as before.
- Due to the higher sensitivity of the skin, there is a risk that you could suffer from skin-related problems due to constant irritation from the exposure to laser rays.
Laser Hair Removal Pregnancy
Although laser hair removal is generally considered to be a completely safe procedure, it is best not to do it while pregnant. While there is no reason to believe that laser hair removal while pregnant is unsafe, there is also no reason to believe it is.
Many pregnant women go through an array of laser procedures without complications like removing kidney stones or genital warts. Unfortunately, though, no relevant studies have been done on the topic of laser hair removal pregnancy, so it is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid doing it.
Additionally, even if studies prove that laser hair removal is safe during pregnancy, it might not be your best option. The changes to the typical hair growth phases might make lasers ineffective at eliminating unwanted hair. You could end up spending a lot of money on a procedure that might not deliver the results you are looking for.
It might be uncomfortable to live with excess hair for several months, but it is in your and your babys best interest. Either get laser hair removal before pregnancy or wait and do it after delivery.
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Are You Able To Have Laser Hair Removal While On Your Period
Are you able to have laser hair removal done while you are on your period? Definitely yes! But theres a few things to keep in mind. Assuming you are going to have a Brazilian laser hair removal, it is best to make sure you have a fresh tampon in before your appointment. For all other types of laser hair removal, many women experience an increase in the sensitivity of their body during their cycle or the week leading up to their period.
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How Long In Postpartum Can I Proceed With Laser Hair Removal
Since pregnancy will affect your skin sensitivity, pigmentation as well as hair growth, it is wiser to wait until you are post-partum and not undergo laser hair removal while pregnant. We recommend to wait until you are done with nursing. However, we do understand that a change in hair growth might be cumbersome for some women. In that case, we ask for a doctor’s note giving you permission to do laser hair removal earlier.
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Can Laser Hair Removal Cause Infertility
To date, there is no evidence suggesting laser hair removal causes infertility. The lasers used are designed to penetrate into the first few millimeters of the skin only. They do not reach any other organs. Laser therapy has been cleared as safe for sensitive areas of the body as well, including the bikini area. So, if youre trying to get pregnant, having laser hair removal in the interim is safe.
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Is It Safe To Do Laser Hair Removal While Breastfeeding
Now you are nursing. This is a wonderful thing. Therefore, IPL or laser hair removal isnt recommended. There is no evidence of the effects of the lasers affecting a woman while she is breastfeeding.
But I would say to be on the safe side it is best to avoid any radiation during this phase after pregnancy. There may be some side effects because of the hormones still inside the nursing mother. These lasers can cause either hyper/hypo-pigmentation because it can interfere with the womens body production of melanin.
Also, some doctors will give their patients numbing creams for any pain. There isnt much pain . Maybe a little stinging. But the creams that they give you, the chemicals can seep into your breast-milk by way of your bloodstream. So, I think the best choice is to postpone any more treatments till you are done breastfeeding.
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Can I Get Laser Hair Removal While Im Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
Pregnancy is a beautiful time a time during which a womans body undergoes many changes. Some of these changes are welcome such as stronger nails and glowing skin and some of these changes are not so welcome.
It is common for pregnant women to experience excess hair growth in unwanted areas, and understandably want it removed. Although the pain of waxing might not be something youd jump at while enduring some of the other aches and pains associated with pregnancy, at MySkin Clinics we do recommend waiting until you have finished breastfeeding to start or re-commence Laser Hair Removal treatments.
How Laser Hair Removal Works
Laser Hair Removal targets hair follicles in areas where hair growth is unwanted. During treatment, an intense pulse light is focused on the follicle in order to incur damage that will prevent future hair growth.
In the rare event that a patient experiences an uncomfortable amount of pain during Laser Hair Removal, our laser technicians will apply numbing agents to the affected areas. These medications do travel through the skin to the blood supply, and could potentially contaminate breast milk.
Although Laser Hair Removal is not a dangerous procedure and the application of pulse lasers has not been shown to affect more than the top layers of skin, our MySkin Clinics technicians do not like to take chances with the well-being of clients. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, we recommend putting your Laser Hair Removal treatments on hold.
