Laser hair removal and 5 weeks pregnant, and 4 days pregnant

Question

I had a full front and back laser hair removal today and coincidentally it never occurred to me why my period was late until I decided to check a couple hours after my laser appointment. I discovered that I am 5 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I was reading that this is the time the baby is developing its neural tubes and other organs did I just harm my baby's fetal development?

Laurie A. Casas, MD, FACS · Answer

This is understandably scary, but based on everything we know, it is very unlikely that you harmed your baby.
Laser hair removal does not penetrate deeply enough to affect a developing embryo or fetus, including the neural tube. The laser energy used for hair removal is confined to the superficial layers of the skin (millimeters deep) and targets pigment in hair follicles. It does not reach the uterus, does not travel through the body, and does not expose the fetus to radiation (this is not ionizing radiation like X-rays).
Therefore avoidance is mostly precautionary, not because harm has been shown

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Congratulations on the pregnancy!! I can completely understand your concerns. Receiving laser hair removal while pregnant has no definitive research backings confirming whether receiving the treatment during pregnancy is safe or harmful. Although laser hair removal is generally considered a safe procedure, doctors and dermatologists usually advise women to avoid the procedure because no studies have been done to prove that it’s safe for mothers and babies. In the absence of research, doctors err on the side of caution. Attending regular checkups with your Physican can help to monitor your concerns more closely.

Ran Y. Rubinstein, MD · Answer

Hello and congratulations! Women are typically advised against laser hair removal treatments during pregnancy due to lack of research, and the hormones released during pregnancy, which can increase the skin's sensitivity to laser treatments thus increasing the risk of side effects. There isn't enough evidence to suggest that the laser would be harmful to the fetus, however it would be best to avoid unnecessary treatment during pregnancy. Hope this helps! Esther Litenatsky AGACNP-BC on behalf of Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein, MD facial plastic surgeon in Newburgh, NY and Montvale, NJ.

Yelena Kipervas, DO · Answer

Hair removal lasers are engineered to concentrate on the precise layer of the skin that houses hair follicles. It will not affect babies development.

Laura A. Katz, MD · Answer

Laser hair removal is usually not recommended in pregnancy, moreso because your skin may react differently as a result of the pregnany hormones, not because the laser would go deep enough to harm the fetus.  You will likely be fine but should wait for the rest of your treatments until 6 weeks after the birth

Laser hair removal and 5 weeks pregnant, and 4 days pregnant

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