In the Know: Is Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant Safe?

Shaving becomes an entirely different task when you’re pregnant. As your belly grows and your body works hard to make a little person, getting to your legs with a razor blade gets tough. You can shave in the shower, but you might need help hitting those spots you just can’t see anymore. You can shave in the tub but getting up and out can be difficult. You may wonder, is now a good time to opt for laser hair removal?

Laser Hair Removal During Pregnancy

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.

If you’ve tried waxing and found your skin to be more sensitive than when you weren’t pregnant, it would be advisable to avoid laser therapy procedures until after delivery.

In addition, your body undergoes a proverbial circus of hormonal changes throughout pregnancy. These fluctuations can cause dark hairs to grow in areas that have previously been hair free. If your goal is to laser away hairs for good, hormonal changes during pregnancy can delay achieving maximum results.

Effective Laser Hair Therapy

Hairs grow in three stages. Hair follicles are only susceptible to laser energy during the first growth stage. As a result, achieving maximum results requires multiple treatments. Why? Because the hair on your body grows at different rates. Even hairs in the same general area grow at different rates. Treating each unwanted follicle while it is in the first stage of growth takes multiple, spaced sessions.

Due to the hormonal changes that impact the body during pregnancy, treating unwanted follicles during their initial growth stage becomes a more significant challenge. Dormant follicles and new hair growth are also more likely to “sprout” at unpredictable times.

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 you’re trying to get pregnant, having laser hair removal in the interim is safe.

Shaving

It’s not the easiest way to deal with unwanted hair, especially during pregnancy, but it is the safest. In the meantime, don’t dismiss your desire to have laser hair removal for more permanent hair growth reduction. Nothing is stopping you from having a  consultation with a qualified laser hair removal specialist, learning how to prep for treatment, and when to time it.

After baby arrives, scheduling some mommy pampering time will be important. Why not contact us to schedule a free consultation or call 757-317-2893 and find out all the ways a MedSpa can pamper you post-pregnancy?