Is laser hair removal safe for women who are pregnant? The answer is a qualified “yes.” Certain beauty procedures are not recommended during pregnancy, like body hair removal. However, laser hair removal itself has not been proven to harm the fetus in any way.
It simply affects only the outer surface of your skin, without impacting fetal development in any way. A common myth is that it can cause damage to the developing fetus.
This is simply not true. The procedure does not use electricity, and there are no hormonal changes that occur during the process. For this reason, laser hair removal while pregnant is generally safe for all of the children involved.
Your growing baby can make its way into the uterus. While this is unlikely to happen through normal menstruation, it could very well happen.
Excess hair growth on the thighs, buttocks, or back of the abdomen could interfere with your ability to give birth if you become pregnant. The added exposure to an already uncomfortable pregnancy may make you want to have the procedure even more than you had planned.
Some over-the-counter creams used to reduce the appearance of facial or body hair are ineffective at reducing the amount of unwanted fur on the back, legs, or face of most women.
In fact, some women experience a worsening of their condition after using these creams. Because they are designed for regular hair growth, they can do little to help those who are suffering from a condition that causes excessive hair growth.
Specialized creams that contain long-chain amino acids (LAC) may cause problems as well. These long chain amino acids are best suited for treating other conditions and are also used to treat acne, dandruff, psoriasis, and several forms of hair growth on adults. Long Chain Amino Acids are a family of compounds called L-Arginine.
These may cause severe reactions in some people, including allergic reactions, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, numbness, muscle weakness, tightness of the throat, and/or tingling in the hands.
For this reason, individuals who use LAC creams should consult a physician first. Some medications such as certain cancer drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, birth control pills, lithium, and antihistamines may cause problems while pregnant.
Laser procedures usually take between one to three sessions. Your esthetician will determine the number of sessions that are appropriate for you and your particular situation. The length of the procedure will depend on how well you heal and the health of your skin.
Many patients choose to have two or more sessions spaced approximately six weeks apart to ensure that their skin has sufficient time to recover from the treatments before having another hair waxing session.
Before getting laser hair removal done while you’re pregnant, you should make sure that you are using a cream that contains LHA. The only safe way to do this is to use an at-home cream created specifically for the purpose of treating bikini area while you’re pregnant.
If you try to get laser treatment done during the first trimester, it’s possible that you could wind up with burns or scars that could make it impossible to enjoy the procedure.
Plus, using a home cream allows you to be more comfortable during the process, which could make you more likely to get laser removal done while you’re pregnant. You’ll still need to get the laser treatment done as usual after the pregnancy, just at a different site.
To increase the chances of avoiding any redness or irritation, you should prepare your skin for the treatment by exfoliating it before getting it done. This process removes dead skin cells and increases the amount of fresh skin cells around the treated area. This can help to protect your skin from unwanted side effects of the laser treatment.
It’s also a good idea to choose a model of bikini wax that’s designed for pregnant women, and to make sure that you’re using one that offers a non-toxic wax to minimize your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. Using these tips before getting laser hair removal done while you’re pregnant will help you ensure the health of your skin and your baby in the womb.