During pregnancy it can be difficult to maintain the same level of attention to grooming as you might usually. Additionally, the pregnancy hormones your body produces as it prepares for birth can cause extra hair growth. What can you do to remedy this? Are you undergoing electrolysis and worried about what could happen if you conceive? At Electrolysis by Alison, we understand these concerns. With our considerable experience we can offer our expert opinion with confidence. We have worked with multiple pregnant and breastfeeding clients, with no health issues to report.
Electrolysis When Pregnant
When addressing unwanted hair growth during pregnancy, remember that certain radio frequencies can pass through the human body. This can present a potential hazard for the developing fetus. There are several different types of electrolysis. Galvanic, blend, and thermolysis. Galvanic electrolysis was the first type that was developed. Application of direct (one-way) electrical current works by stimulating water and salt until they break apart and create lye. This is the substance which disables the hair follicles and prevents them from growing more hair. Thermolysis electrolysis uses a high frequency alternating current. This current creates heat in the atomic structure, as the particles rub against each other. This concentrated heat eventually disables the follicle’s ability to regrow hair. It’s more popular than galvanic methods. Blend electrolysis combines the two methods. Galvanic electrolysis and blend electrolysis are not recommended for those who are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. The direct current flows throughout the body. Since the fetus develops in the amniotic sac, which is full of liquid that can conduct electricity, it is considered dangerous. The short-wave thermolysis method does not circulate through the body, concentrating in the treated area. Therefore it is considered safer for pregnant women to undergo.
Alternative Hair Removal Methods
Of course, the big day will be difficult for a lot of reasons. But when you’re considering your pubic hair, it’s often best to avoid common methods of excess hair removal. This becomes more important the likelier it is you’re in line for a Caesarean. Every time you remove unwanted hair around your genitals by shaving or waxing, you cause multiple micro-abrasions. These tiny tears in the skin are usually so small that you don’t bleed from them, so they can escape your notice. But if you’re weak from extensive surgery, you don’t want to have hundreds of tiny cuts susceptible to infection. Midwives have noticed a significant difference in the level of complications suffered by patients who shaved or waxed before giving birth compared to those who went au naturel or had used a permanent hair removal method. Depilatory creams may seem a sensible solution, but you are likelier to suffer an allergic reaction to most creams during pregnancy. There are creams formulated to be kind to sensitive skin on the market, though. However, what has not been tested is the effect of the depilatory chemicals on developing fetuses. If you decide to try using hair removal cream during pregnancy, make sure you do it in a well-ventilated area. Pregnancy can make your nose much more sensitive to unusual smells. The chemicals depilatory creams contain have strong odors. This smell only gets stronger when they are dissolving hair.
Laser Hair Removal and Pregnancy
One method that we strongly recommend against, particularly in the final trimester, is laser hair removal. Studies were done by the Food and Drug Administration on the effects of laser procedures in pregnant rats. Adverse effects were observed. While there is not enough data involving pregnant humans to be conclusive, it is generally considered an unnecessary risk. What’s more, many who become pregnant after laser hair removal find that pregnancy causes a lot of follicles previously thought dormant to actively start growing hair again. For this and other reasons, the FDA does not officially recognize laser treatment as a permanent method of hair removal. To date, only electrolysis has received that status.
Where Can I Get Electrolysis during Pregnancy?
Electrolysis on the neck and head is generally deemed safe throughout a pregnancy. However, Electrolysis by Alison advocates that pregnant women seeking electrolysis should consult with a physician beforehand. This is especially true for the first trimester. Even with thermolysis electrolysis, it is considered prudent to avoid treating the abdomen. This is especially true in later trimesters. One thing that multiple electrologists caution against is treating breasts in the weeks before childbirth. As the breasts will be swelling and more tender than usual, this can be considerably more uncomfortable for clients. What’s more, if you’re planning on breastfeeding, you don’t want to do anything to your breasts that’s going to make them more sensitive in the days running up to meeting your new child. For this reason, we also recommend avoiding electrolysis of any kind on the chest and abdomen while breastfeeding.
Does Electrolysis during Pregnancy Hurt?
Normally, electrolysis is not particularly painful. Especially with Alison’s quick and precise technique, any discomfort should be at a minimum. One sure way to reduce any pain or side effects: ensure that the treatment area is thoroughly cleaned prior to treatment. Minor side effects such as whiteheads and scabs can be prevented in this way. While skin can be a little more sensitive during pregnancy, it should not be a painful procedure. Unfortunately we must recommend against using numbing cream during pregnancy. Their effects on fetuses in development have not been scientifically observed.
Is Pregnancy Electrolysis Permanent?
During pregnancy, with the hormonal changes that people undergo, surges of terminal hair growth can be common. Terminal hairs, the thick, coarse ones that can look out of place on an upper lip, can often cause problems. Especially if you are planning on having a large family, you might be concerned about repeated growth of unwanted facial hair. Electrolysis is the perfect remedy for this kind of hair growth. Not only is it a relatively painless and fast treatment, it is also permanent. The thermolysis electrolysis technique generates lye which permanently and reliably disables the hair follicle at the root. No hair can ever regrow. This is the reason the Food and Drug Administration recognizes electrolysis as the only permanent method of hair removal. Check with your doctor to make sure they believe electrolysis is right for your pregnancy.
Issues with Hair Removal during Pregnancy
You know that pregnancy puts a lot of strain on your body. What may be less clear is how that can affect your skin and body hair. In general, pregnancy increases the sensitivity of your skin. When your skin on your abdomen in particular is stretched out as your belly swells, its elasticity is tested. Unfortunately, this can coincide with hormonal hair growth that causes heavy growth on your bikini line, belly, and many other areas. This growth can even crop up in areas that never experienced dark hair growth before. Your arms, chest, and back can be affected. It may be tempting to deal with this hair by waxing, tweezing, or shaving. We’re here to to tell you to resist that temptation when it comes to hair removal on the belly. Any body parts affected by your pregnancy, such as legs, abdomen, or chest, should not be shaved, waxed, or tweezed. The stretched skin in these areas will be especially prone to microabrasions and other damage. Any injuries to the skin can put you at danger of infections that may jeopardize your pregnancy. Of course, your breast tissue will also be more sensitive. Bottom line, you can cause significant discomfort by attempting to remove chest hair by yourself with these methods.
Electrolysis by Alison
If you are struggling with unwanted hair growth on your face or body during your pregnancy, Electrolysis by Alison can help. Alison specializes in helping women struggling with sudden hormonal hair growth. Whether it is PCOS, menopause, or pregnancy, Alison can assist. She has perfected her fast and effective one-handed electrolysis technique over 15 years of experience in the profession. She can treat clients with any hair or skin type combination. You can be confident that you’ll be taken care of when you come in for treatment with Alison. The clinic uses only natural and non-toxic products, to minimize the chance of complications from skin allergies and the like. We want to help you feel and look good, whether it’s during or after your pregnancy. Take the time to perform a little self care for yourself in our relaxing and beautiful premises. Alison’s philosophy of self-care and compassion makes her practice the perfect location for those who want to enjoy a moment for themselves.
If you’d like to learn more about our services, please call us today on 323-875-4425. We’re waiting to help!
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