Are laser hair removal procedures safe to use while expecting? What risks do lasers pose to expectant mothers? This is what we will know in the lines of the following article:
Some women may want laser hair removal during pregnancy, especially since body hair may start to grow more intensely during pregnancy in light of the hormonal changes that the pregnant body goes through, but is this type of procedure safe for the pregnant woman and her fetus? The following are the key facts regarding laser harm to expectant mothers:
The truth about laser damage to pregnant women
In fact, there are no human studies to date that have addressed the effect of hair laser on pregnancy and its safety. Whether for the foetus of a pregnant woman.
Experts therefore advise against using lasers while pregnant, at least until studies can definitively confirm or refute the safety of lasers during pregnancy. This is because there is a dearth of scientific data in this area.
Additionally, it is advised that women completely avoid lasers, whether they are pregnant or not, if any of the following situations apply to them:
- She either has oral ulcers all the time or has genital herpes.
- She currently or has had skin cancer.
- She has keloid scars.
What is the harm of laser for pregnant women?
Although it is still being investigated, the following potential laser harm to pregnant women could exist:
1. Uneven skin tone
Among the damages of laser to pregnant women and to different groups in general is that it may stimulate temporary imbalance of skin pigment levels in certain areas of the body, and this imbalance may appear in the form of the following:
- Hyperpigmentation: which appears in the form of darkened areas of the skin.
- Lack of pigmentation: This is manifested as areas of skin that are lighter than the surrounding area.
It should be noted that hormonal changes during pregnancy may make a woman more prone to the development of pigmentation during this time in her life, even without receiving laser hair removal treatments. This hyperpigmentation may also increase the level of skin sensitivity, which could make laser treatments more painful and ineffective.
2. Blisters
The use of laser hair removal can result in breakouts. This type of laser damage to pregnant women and non-pregnant women is an uncommon phenomenon, but if a woman has dark skin then she may be more susceptible to the appearance of blisters.
3. Burns
Burns are one of the potential side effects of laser hair removal treatments, but the risk of burns may be higher if the skin is exposed to the laser during the months of pregnancy because of the hormonal changes a woman's body experiences during pregnancy, which may affect the skin's sensitivity.
What may make matters worse is that, if the victim is a pregnant woman, the aforementioned hormonal changes may slow down the rate at which burns recover after they occur, which may cause the burns brought on by laser sessions to stick to the skin for a longer period of time.
4. Other damages
Additional potential laser harm to expectant mothers can include the following:
- Due to the high sensitivity of women's skin during pregnancy, skin irritation, redness, and swelling, which may be minor in non-pregnant women, may be more severe in pregnant women.
- Inflammation or infection, such as: herpes infection.
- Scars are frequently transient, but they can occasionally become permanent.
- cramps that hurt, especially when the laser is applied to the thighs or lower abdomen.
- Possible complications for the fetus.
Disadvantages of undergoing laser surgery during pregnancy
It may not be a good idea to have laser hair removal sessions while pregnant due to some of the challenges and drawbacks that pregnancy may bring to a woman's body, in addition to the laser damage to the pregnant woman that we mentioned above, such as:
- High skin sensitivity, particularly in specific regions like the chest and the sensitive area, which could make laser treatments more uncomfortable.
- The pregnant woman's limited range of motion, particularly in the final trimesters, may make it more difficult for her to adopt the ideal positions necessary for the laser session to remove hair from various body parts.
- The high level of sensitivity of women's bodies to lasers necessitates the use of local anaesthetic ointments, which are harmful to unborn children.
How to prevent laser damage to pregnant women
The main step to avoid any possible damage to the laser for the pregnant woman and her fetus is to avoid laser completely throughout the months of pregnancy , and if the woman begins to undergo laser sessions after childbirth, the following is recommended:
- If you notice any signs of skin infection or inflammation after the laser session, call your doctor right away.
- Using sunscreen on the skin without neglecting between laser sessions.
- waiting three months after giving birth before beginning laser hair removal treatments; this is to ensure that the body's hormone levels have stabilised.
In the event that a woman insists on undergoing laser hair removal sessions during the months of pregnancy, it is preferable that she consult the doctor first, and if he allows her to do so, it is preferable that certain areas of the body be avoided during the sessions, such as the following areas: the abdomen, the sensitive area, and the breasts .
Laser alternatives for pregnant women
Following our discussion of the potential risks of laser hair removal for expectant mothers, here are some alternatives that might be less risky:
- Haircuts.
- Waxing.