Table Of Content
Some lasers have trouble telling hair from skin, potentially leading to burns or discoloration. Let’s be real – throwing away razors and waxing out of the window sounds incredibly appealing. When compared to these two traditional hair removal treatments, laser hair removal offers smoother, fuzz-free nights out. If you know you are going to try to become pregnant in the near future, you may want to get laser hair removal now. That way, you don’t have to worry about any risks or pausing treatments once you’ve started. Then, you can work with your treatment provider to prepare for laser hair removal after giving birth.
Pregnancy and all the hair
As with laser hair removal, there isn't any research proving that electrolysis is safe for pregnant women and their babies, so experts recommend holding off on the procedure until after your baby is born. While there's still very little data or studies on the risks of laser hair removal during pregnancy, it's never a bad idea to err on the side of caution and opt for other hair removal options until you deliver. That being said, if you do feel strongly that you want to consider hair removal while pregnant, make sure to discuss the risks with your doctor beforehand, she adds. "Currently, there isn't enough information to say whether it's safe to undergo laser hair removal while pregnant," says Dr. Stephanie Hack, a board-certified OBGYN and Founder of Lady Parts Doctor. Because of that, the experts we spoke with agreed that it's best for expecting mommas to plan to book any laser hair removal treatments pre-or-post baby.
Other reasons to wait until you’re postpartum
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says you should think of postpartum care as a long-term process, rather than just one appointment. During your first few months after delivery, talk with your obstetrician regularly to discuss all the ways your body is changing. About three to six months after the baby arrives and your hormones normalize, the extra hair will fall out. A doctor or laser technician aims a beam of light at the region you want to treat. The laser targets the dark pigment in each hair, sending heat down the hair shaft and into the follicle.
Can You Have a Laser Hair Removal Treatment Postpartum?
If you have concerns, it is recommended to discuss the potential risks with your doctor. As we already touched on, there is no safety data on laser hair removal and pregnancy. It’s their job to monitor your pregnancy and make sure that both you and the baby are healthy and safe.
If you’re pregnant and want to remove unwanted hair, there are several alternatives available. Waxing is still commonly used during pregnancy for smoothing legs and other areas. While caution is still advised, it does provide longer-lasting results compared to shaving. Seek out an experienced esthetician and avoid waxing sensitive areas. Although hair removal creams, gels, lotions, aerosols and roll-ons may seem like an easy option, the science is still out on whether they’re safe during pregnancy. Before things start, let your esthetician know you’re pregnant so she knows to be extra gentle.
The Potential Side Effects
Then, once you give birth, your body goes through big hormonal changes yet again. We find that results are more predictable and consistent when our clients’ hormones have had a chance to stabilize. Additionally, it’s very common to experience increased hyperpigmentation (especially melasma) during pregnancy.
Just because you should hold off on laser skin resurfacing during pregnancy, that doesn’t mean your skincare has to take a backseat. There are ways you can’t help your skin look its best and get on top of any pregnancy skin concerns. Depilatory creams are a popular option for temporarily removing body hair, as they don’t pose any risk to the baby. However, some providers worry about how you will react to the creams with all the chances in blood flow and hormones. Always consult your own obstetrician for specific advice about your situation, health status and which hair removal methods make sense for the next nine months. If you do decide to proceed with laser hair removal during pregnancy, only do so under strict doctor supervision and with full awareness of the unknown risks involved.
Regular sessions will be necessary to deal with persistent hair growth. These days, there are a lot of fancy options for an at-home laser hair removal device, and you might be tempted to use it while pregnant. These devices are significantly less powerful than in-office options, after all. Again, while there aren’t any smoking gun studies that show this could cause a problem with your pregnancy, a dermatologist isn’t exactly going to recommend it either. One thing to take into consideration with hair removal during pregnancy is your stretched and tender skin. Both laser hair removal and electrolysis can cause swollen and irritated skin.
How soon after delivery can you schedule laser hair removal?
If an at-home laser works for you, it may be worth the investment, as it would be significantly cheaper to use at home than to continuously get treatments at the doctor’s office. However, for best results, you would have to use the device fairly often, which may make it not all that different from shaving. However, these lasers require a more skilled technician, especially for darker skin, because they need to deliver energy at a slower pace and use additional cooling features to protect your skin. Pregnancy brings about significant changes in a woman's body, often leading to a sense of unfamiliarity.
If you feel you must use them, get the okay from your doctor first and make sure to apply on a well-ventilated area after testing the product on a small patch of skin. As always, these products should never be used on the nose, ears or nipples; over varicose veins, moles or warts; or on irritated, chapped or sunburned skin. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. It’s especially important to speak with your doctor if you have incisions or wounds from a cesarean delivery or an episiotomy. For facial hair, invest in a smaller precision trimmer that’s safe to use around the lips, cheeks and chin. One of the more common changes that can happen during pregnancy is darkening of your skin — a condition called hyperpigmentation.
Should I Stop Waxing and Switch to Laser Hair Removal? - The Cut
Should I Stop Waxing and Switch to Laser Hair Removal?.
Posted: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Things should return to normal when your baby is about 6 months old. Once you’re postpartum, you and your doctor can work together to determine when it’s safe to start laser hair removal treatments back up. While there’s no evidence suggesting that laser hair removal will impact your chances of getting pregnant, successful hair removal results can take several treatments and many months to achieve. If you’re considering treatment while trying for a baby, talk to your doctor before you start. If you had laser hair removal or electrolysis before knowing you're pregnant, don't worry.
At-home laser hair removal devices aren't recommended during pregnancy. Doctors suggest waiting until at least 3-6 months after giving birth before considering laser hair removal. This allows hormones to return to normal levels and reduces the risks. By then, any pregnancy-related hair changes will have stabilized as well. If you’re curious whether or not you can undergo laser hair removal treatments while pregnant, you’re definitely not alone.
The lack of evidence proving it’s 100% safe for the developing baby is too much of a liability. Getting laser hair removal during pregnancy may disrupt the normal postpartum hair regrowth cycle. According to doctors at Mayo Clinic, laser hair removal is most effective when there’s a contrast between the color of your skin and the color of your hair. If hyperpigmentation has made the skin on your target zone closer to the color of your hair, treatment might be less effective.
That means following professional recommendations and potentially putting your treatments on hold until after delivery. However, there are a lot of treatments that might not be safe for you or your unborn child if you are pregnant, including laser hair removal. In general, it’s recommended that pregnant women avoid laser hair removal. Laser therapy targets the dark pigment in the hair follicle and releases light energy to inhibit the hair follicles. Most providers recommend avoiding laser hair removal during pregnancy due to lack of information on what (if any) effect it could have on the fetus. Many women can experience unwanted hair growth during and after their pregnancy – including the belly, chin, upper lip, buttocks and breasts (often around the nipples).
The level of pain experienced during laser hair removal can vary depending on several factors, including the technology and system used, as well as an individual's pain tolerance. It's crucial to ensure that qualified professionals perform the treatment using effective and safe machinery. Due to increased skin sensitivity during pregnancy, both laser hair removal and electrolysis can result in swollen and irritated skin. These side effects, along with potential heightened pain, may be worse than usual. The massive increase in estrogen during pregnancy often leads to more hair follicles getting stuck in the anagen phase.
No comments:
Post a Comment