The Dermatology Series: Excess Hair. Series 2 of 7

Whilst the hair on your head remains lush and appears thicker and in better condition than ever in pregnancy, hairs elsewhere can sprout in embarrassing places where it never was a problem! This excess hair growth is more of an issue with persons with pre-existing facial or body hair but it can happen to even the smoothest skinned of ladies thanks to all of those raging hormones.

Aside from the temporary methods of waxing, plucking, shaving , threading and so on that you are probably more familiar with , there are permanent options for hair removal via lasers and light sources.
The use of these machines for permanent hair reduction is best avoided in pregnancy however due to the use of topical anaesthesia that is used in these procedures.

What you can do before getting pregnant

You may want to consider starting on the permanent options for hair removal in areas that are already a bit of a problem, especially if you already have slightly excessive facial hair. Do inform your doctor about the fact that you are , or will be, trying to conceive though so that they will not begin a longer treatment that may need to be stopped halfway through because you discover you’re expecting.

What you can do during pregnancy and while nursing

The temporary methods for hair removal are best during this period. This can be easier said than done while you are expecting . Shaving becomes a bit of a problem simply because of your increased size in pregnancy. Shaving in the shower, something you may have been doing for years becomes almost an impossibility later in pregnancy and is rather unsafe from a balance point of view anyway!

A mild over the counter hair removal cream like Veet is safe to use in pregnancy and while nursing as long as you follow the instructions properly as the cream is not absorbed into the bloodstream. The smell might be a little overpowering for the sensitive nose you will develop during pregnancy though, so make sure you use it in a very well ventilated place.

What you can do after nursing is completed

You may re-start or begin methods for permanent hair removal. Temporary hair removal methods will still work but finding the time when you are caring for an active baby can be hard! There are a number of different pain free and very effective permanent hair removal methods available today that your doctor can tell you about.