Pregnancy can bring about a number of unexpected changes in the body, including increased hair growth.
Paired with the fact that an expanding belly can make in difficult to shave certain parts of the body, women may begin to consider laser hair removal to address unwanted growth.
And while LHR has an excellent safety profile, patients often wonder: Is laser hair removal safe during pregnancy?
Continue reading to learn how pregnancy hormones affect hair growth, and why it’s a good idea to postpone LHR until after giving birth.
Why Do Women Experience Increased Hair Growth During Pregnancy?
In order to answer the question–is laser hair removal safe during pregnancy?–it’s important to discuss how pregnancy can affect hair growth.
During pregnancy, hormone levels soar and can contribute to changes in hair growth. More specifically, higher levels of estrogen and androgen can lead to an increased amount of hair growth and sudden growth on certain parts of the body such as belly, face, neck, breasts, and arms.
Pregnancy hormones can also affect the hair growth cycle and delay the telogen phase, which is characterized by hair falling out. As a result, it’s not uncommon to notice thicker and fuller hair while pregnant.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe During Pregnancy?
In order to make a recommendation about the safety of any treatment, there needs to be clinical research and data to substantiate the claim. However, there isn’t any safety data to support using cosmetic lasers during pregnancy.
So, when it comes to answering the question–is laser hair removal safe during pregnancy?–experts cite lack of evidence as a reason to postpone treatment until after a woman has given birth.
Learn More About Laser Hair Removal
If you are considering laser hair removal, please call our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nalan Narine.
