Is Laser Hair Removal Safe During Pregnancy

Will Pregnancy Disqualify Me From Laser Hair Removal

Is laser hair removal safe during pregnancy? Laser Hair Removal Pregnancy

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.

If Im Pregnant Can I Still Have Ipl/laser Hair Removal Treatments In The Bikini Area

Just like the same thing I mentioned above. Its always better to be on the safe side. So, doctors wouldnt be too willing to perform the procedure while you are pregnant since not much is known about what would happen to you or your fetus.

And the process of the IPL destroying the hair follicles in places such as your bikini area may be too much of a risk for some technicians. Its like going into uncharted waters.

What Do I Have To Do Following Laser Hair Treatment

Laser hair removal does not require any downtime. Following treatment, your skin may be red and warm to the touch. Small bumps are common and normal.

There are a few simple steps well ask you to take immediately following each treatment:

  • Avoid direct sunlight on the affected area, and wear appropriate protective clothing
  • Do not apply any tanning products, oils, or creams
  • If required, cool the area with a cold compress
  • Avoid strenuous activity or exercise post-laser
  • Avoid picking or scratching the area, and do not pluck or pick at ingrown hairs
  • Have a lukewarm shower avoid hot water and make sure to gently pat the area dry

We also offer a post-laser gel that can be used to soothe the skin following laser hair removal.

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Pregnancy And All The Hair

When youre pregnant, your body is awash with hormones. Higher levels of estrogen and androgen can cause hair to grow in places where it never appeared before, especially in the third trimester.

You could suddenly notice hair on your belly, face, neck, breasts, and arms. The good news is that this hair growth is quite common, and it generally goes away on its own after the baby arrives.

Pregnancy hormones not only affect where hair suddenly sprouts and how much of it you have to deal with, they also change the growth cycle of your hair.

The hairs on your head and your body all have an active growth phase called anagen. When the hair is fully grown, it enters a resting state called telogen, after which it falls out.

Pregnancy hormones delay the falling out phase, which might be why you notice thicker, fuller hair. Your body simply isnt letting go of the usual amount of hair.

About three to six months after the baby arrives and your hormones normalize, the extra hair will fall out. This sudden loss of hair is called telogen effluvium.

The estrogen-induced hair growth, combined with the increasing difficulty of reaching some parts of your body as your belly grows, may have you wondering whether you should schedule an appointment for laser hair removal as an alternative to shaving, waxing, or using depilatory creams.

International Journal of Womens Dermatology published a review in 2017 on the safety of cosmetic procedures for pregnant women.

Pregnancy Causes Skin Hyperpigmentation

Is Laser Hair Removal safe during Pregnancy?

Its not uncommon for pregnant women to experience skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation. Darkening of the skin decreases the contrast between the color of the skin and the body hair, making it harder for the laser to target the hair follicle. Not only does that mean the treatment is less likely to work, but it can end up costing you more when you need to buy more laser sessions.

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Is Laser Hair Removal Dangerous During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women refuse many hardware procedures, fearing their negative impact on the fetus. Laser hair removal is not capable of harming a child, since the penetration depth of the beam is too small for this. But women in position are advised to refrain from this procedure, for which there are a number of reasons.

Another reason to postpone a trip to the salon until better times is hormonal changes. Pregnant women often notice that body hairs have begun to appear in the most unexpected places. Often this is the area of ââthe nipples, hands, upper lip and other areas that were not previously problematic. But do not try to eliminate them as quickly as possible. During pregnancy, the hairs become thicker and stronger, and they cannot be effectively removed with moderate laser exposure.

A more powerful beam will harm the skin of a pregnant woman, because due to fluid retention and increased pigmentation, it becomes more sensitive. Laser hair removal is not recommended for women who are breastfeeding. The sensations when removing hairs can be many times more painful, and the effect of the laser on delicate skin is difficult to predict.

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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Can You Have Laser While Pregnant

When youre pregnant, your biggest priority is the health of yourself and your baby. Your body goes through an enormity of changes, which might include newfound skin sensitivities, breakouts and stretch marks. These symptoms often go hand in hand with excess hair growth around your belly, face and other unwanted places.

Many clients ask us if these commoon side-effects of pregnancy can be treated while pregnant, especially with laser hair removal treatments or laser for skin and veins. Here we discuss whether it is safe to take part in these procedures.

Can You Have Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant

Pregnancy And Laser Hair Removal

Most doctors and laser hair removal clinics themselves recommend staying away from laser hair removal procedures while you are pregnant. This has been concluded after research conducted on pregnant rats exposed to lasers, although the same hasnt been approved officially. In such cases, it is better to err on the side of caution and avoid laser exposure altogether.

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Other Symptoms During Pregnancy

Spider veins, puffiness, rashes, and itchiness are also very common during pregnancy.

Hormones fluctuations The main pregnancy hormones responsible for these changes are estrogen and progesterone. The changes in the levels of these two hormones as well as other key hormones can affect mood as well.

Oxytocin The body becomes sensitive to oxytocin towards the end of pregnancy and it is responsible for the bonding feeling. It also stretches the cervix & stimulates milk production.

Prolactin Responsible for milk production.

Relaxin Responsible for relaxing the uterine muscle & loosening up the ligaments.

Lack Of Research On Effects

There is no doubt that laser hair removal is a safe method of removing unwanted hair. In fact, lasers are used across the country and the world to safely treat warts, kidney stones, and a variety of other medical conditions.

However, there simply has not been enough research undertaken on pregnant women to be able to definitively answer the question: is laser hair removal during pregnancy safe? This lack of research is unlikely to be resolved soon, as it seems unlikely that a group of pregnant women would participate in a study to track the effects of laser hair removal on their unborn babies.

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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.

Why Does Hair Increase During Pregnancy

Is It Safe To Get Laser Hair Removal Treatment When Pregnant?

The hairs pass through different stages of growth:

Angen: Growth Stage

Talogen: The stage of rest after growth

Catagen: The falling stage that is followed by a new growth cycle

Pregnancy hormones delay the stage of fall, so the body hair growth increases temporarily during pregnancy. However, after about three to six months of birth and the return of hormones to normal, excess hair obtained during pregnancy, starts to fall. This is called the sudden loss of body hair.

Of course during the period of temporary increase of hair during pregnancy, women get frustrated and seek medical advice regarding laser hair removal. Medical authorities advise to postpone laser hair removal after the arrival of the child.

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Can Pregnant Women Get Laser Hair Removal

Our advice is to wait until youre postpartum. There is currently no reliable data to show that laser hair removal is safe during pregnancy.

The main reason is probably ethical because scientists do not want to expose pregnant women to potentially harmful processes and products.

In the future, perhaps there will be studies on the safety of this laser treatment. For now, however, dermatologists and doctors recommend that women avoid it during pregnancy.

On the other hand, pregnancy can disrupt your hair growth cycle. Therefore, it may take up to six treatments to give you effective hair removal.

The best thing is that these methods will be conducted during the active growth phase of the cycle. Your pregnancy hormones can change the duration of some phases, possibly causing the process to go wrong.

Finally, it is about skin sensitivity. During pregnancy, blood is supplied throughout your body, and it also stretches the skin of your chest and abdomen. As a result, applying therapy at this stage can make you uncomfortable.

Postponing this treatment that is already in progress would not negatively impact the result. Many centers will allow you to pick up where you left off after your babys birth or when breastfeeding is finished.

In general, it is best to apply this treatment after you give birth or use the alternative methods we will cover below.

Hair Removal By Waxing

Most women are used to waxing and are quite well-versed in carrying it out on their own. It is rather efficient and easier to be done at home itself, saving you a trip outside and the costs associated with it. However, waxing is brutal for the skin, and during pregnancy, the sensitive skin can react strongly to it. Be extremely careful since waxing could leave bruise marks on your body in such a case.

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Is It Safe For A Woman To Undergo Laser Hair Removal When Trying To Conceive This Question Has Caused Great Concern For Both Pregnant Patients And Laser Therapists

During the nine months of pregnancy, common discomforts experienced by women include headaches, heartburn, body pains and insomnia. The hair removal discomforts include the act of bending down whilst shaving or enduring the pain of strip waxing. In the third trimester, most women become desperate and consider most effective hair removal methods such as laser hair removal.

Before discussing safety, it is imperative to understand the mechanics of laser hair removal. The hair is eradicated as a laser beam penetrates the skin to target the follicle. It has been clinically proven that the laser beam would not penetrate the skin enough to cause damage to the foetus or the pregnant woman.

The most effective hair removal method on the market is laser. The procedure results in an 85-99 percent reduction at the conclusion of the treatment program. The most commonly treated areas by women include the underarms, face and legs. While hair is normally treated within 6-10 treatments, hormonal changes as well as patterns of hair growth ultimately determine the actual number of required treatments.

The only time certain areas should be avoided are the Brazilian and abdomen during the final trimester. This is due to the fact that the baby is developing in those areas. Woman should also avoid treatment on the breasts as they are vital for breast feeding.

Note: This article is for informational purpose only. Please contact your doctor/dermatologist for proper guidance and information.

Laser Hair Removal Myths

Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant

If youve never had laser hair removal treatments, but are considering them, you may be hesitant because a few facts about the process have scared you off. These facts may include things like tales of radiation destroying your organs, or new hairs sprouting uncontrollably. But its important to know the truth about laser hair removal, and which facts are actually myths.

The Myth #1: Laser Hair Removal is Permanent

The lasers heat will zap hair follicles, which causes the hair to fall out in the following weeks. Hair will not grow back from these zapped follicles, however, new follicles can developand hair can grow from these. So, laser hair removal is permanent in that it causes hair to stop growing from follicles, but a touch up treatment may be required every few years. Despite this, laser hair removal is still considered the most long-lasting hair removal treatment available.

The Myth #2: Laser Hair Removal Causes Ingrown Hairs

This is so false that actually the opposite is true. Laser hair removal can be quite helpful in reducing ingrown hairs. It is an excellent treatment for ingrown hairs.

The Myth #3: Laser Hair Removal is Very Painful

The Myth #4: Laser Hair Removal Can Be Completed in One Session

The Myth #5: Laser Hair Removal Will Damage Your Skin

The Myth #6: Laser Hair Removal Can Damage Internal Organs

The Myth #7: Laser Hair Removal Exposes You to Radiation

The Myth #8: Laser Hair Removal Causes More Hair to Grow

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Laser Hair Removal In San Diego

Getting laser hair removal during pregnancy is not recommended due to the unknown effects on the fetus. However, you can wax or shave to safely remove unwanted hair. Once you have the baby, come in to see us for laser hair removal.

For over a decade, Dr. Aeria Chang has been providing extraordinary laser treatments, injectables, and anti-aging skin care to women and men in San Diego County and beyond. Contact us today to book your appointment at 280-1609

Problems That May Arise If Youve Laser Hair Removal Treatment While Pregnant

Although laser hair removal might be the most obvious choice earlier in life, during pregnancy, there are enough and more reasons to avoid this treatment. Here are some reasons why you should avoid it:

  • 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 fluctuating hormone levels lead to 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. You may experience skin irritation from the exposure to laser rays.

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Risks Of Getting Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant

Although theres no research into getting laser hair removal specifically while pregnant, there are potential risks that being pregnant can make you more susceptible to. Dr. Nazarian lets us in on why it is strongly discouraged.

There are risks of complications, specifically skin burns, and given the altered hormonal state in pregnancy, this risk may be theoretically increased, she shares. There is also potential for the laser treatments to be less effective during pregnancy. She stresses that the benefits are far outweighed by the risk of complications.

Other reasons to avoid getting laser hair removal while pregnant also involve the aforementioned pregnancy hormones. If a burn occurs, you heal slower when pregnant and are more likely to hyper-pigment, cautions Dr. Lupo. The latter makes sense seeing as how conditions like melasma tend to arise in pregnant people, as well as those who get hormone replacement therapy or take birth control pills.

The additional hormones flowing through their systems cause telltale signs of melasma to appeargrayish-brown or brown patches on the face. And anything that irritates your skin, like lasers or even harsh skincare products, can also leave dark marks.

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