Can You Get Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant?

This article is for information only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your OB-GYN, dermatologist, or healthcare provider before starting or continuing cosmetic treatments during pregnancy.

Quick answer: Most providers recommend waiting until after pregnancy. There is no proof that laser hair removal harms a developing baby, but no one has studied it carefully in pregnant people, so the safety data does not exist. Because the procedure is elective, the cautious choice is to pause now and restart later. If you had a session before you knew you were pregnant, don’t panic. There are no documented cases of laser hair removal causing pregnancy loss or birth defects (Trivedi et al., 2017).

You are pregnant, or you think you might be, and you are trying to figure out what to do about your laser appointments. Maybe you already had a session and you are spiraling. This guide walks you through what the research says, what providers actually do, and what to do next.

Is laser hair removal safe during pregnancy?

The honest answer: no one knows for sure.

The American Pregnancy Association says there are no studies confirming laser hair removal is safe during pregnancy, and most providers recommend postponing it until after delivery. A 2017 peer-reviewed review in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology came to the same conclusion. The authors wrote that the “safety data for elective laser hair removal in pregnancy is insufficient” and recommended postponing such procedures until after delivery (Trivedi, Kroumpouzos, and Murase, 2017).

This is not proof that laser is dangerous. It is proof that no one has studied it enough to call it safe.

“There aren’t any studies that have looked at the safety of laser hair removal during pregnancy, so most providers recommend waiting until after delivery,” Dr. Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, a double board-certified OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist, told The Bump.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated laser hair removal devices for safety during pregnancy, and pregnant people are routinely excluded from the clinical trials that get these devices approved (FDA, “Removing Hair Safely”). The companies that make the lasers, including Candela and Lumenis, also list pregnancy as a contraindication or precaution in their device manuals.

Why do providers recommend waiting?

Four reasons stack together:

• No research. Pregnant people are excluded from cosmetic procedure studies, so the safety data simply does not exist (Trivedi et al., 2017).
• It is elective. Laser hair removal is not medically necessary. When safety data is incomplete and the procedure can wait, the cautious choice is to wait.
• Skin reacts differently. Pregnancy hormones make your skin more sensitive and more prone to dark patches, irritation, and burns (American Academy of Dermatology, “Pregnancy and Your Skin”).
• Hormones change your hair. Pregnancy can cause new growth and regrowth in areas you have already treated, which makes laser results unpredictable (Cleveland Clinic, “Hair Changes During and After Pregnancy”).

In a 2013 survey published in Dermatologic Surgery, more than 60% of dermatologists said pregnant patients had asked them about laser, Botox, fillers, or chemical peels. Most declined to treat, citing lack of safety data rather than evidence of harm (Lee et al., 2013).

Can laser hair removal harm the baby?

There is no evidence it can. The laser’s energy is absorbed by the pigment in your hair follicle. It does not travel deep enough to reach your uterus or your baby.

Here are the numbers:

• Alexandrite laser (755 nm): penetrates about 1 to 2 millimeters into your skin.
• Diode laser (810 nm): about 2 to 3 millimeters.
• Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm): about 4 to 5 millimeters (Ross, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2006; Tanzi et al., JAAD, 2003).

Your abdominal wall during pregnancy is roughly 20 to 40 millimeters thick, depending on how far along you are and your body type (ISUOG Practice Guidelines, 2022). Your uterus sits deeper still. The laser physically cannot reach your baby.

“The laser only penetrates a few millimeters into the skin, so it doesn’t reach the fetus or internal organs,” Dr. Gaither told The Bump.

So why the caution? Because “we have no mechanism for harm” is not the same as “we have studies showing it is safe.” Both can be true at once.

What if you had laser before you knew you were pregnant?

First, don’t panic. The 2017 IJWD review found no documented cases of laser hair removal causing fetal harm (Trivedi et al., 2017). Many people have cosmetic treatments before they realize they are pregnant. One session is not a reason to expect anything is wrong.

Here is what to do next:

1. Call your clinic. Tell them you are pregnant. Pause your remaining sessions.
2. Mention it at your next OB-GYN visit. If you are anxious enough that it is affecting your sleep, call sooner. Reassurance is part of prenatal care.
3. Watch your skin. Mild redness, slight swelling around the follicles, and a bit of warmth for 24 to 48 hours are normal.
4. Call your provider promptly if you see blistering, broken skin, oozing, spreading redness, fever, or burns.

If you already had a session

Situation	What to do
One session before a positive pregnancy test	Don’t panic. Tell your OB-GYN. Pause future sessions.
Mild redness or irritation	Use gentle skin care. Ask your provider what’s safe during pregnancy.
Burns, blisters, severe pain, fever, or pus	Contact a healthcare provider promptly.
High-risk pregnancy	Ask your OB-GYN directly before any cosmetic treatment.

Is laser hair removal safer in any trimester?

No. No trimester has enough safety data to be considered clearly safe for elective laser hair removal. The 2017 IJWD review and the American Pregnancy Association both recommend pausing throughout pregnancy, with no trimester carve-out.

Trimester	Practical guidance
First (weeks 1 to 13)	Avoid elective laser. Safety data is limited, and your baby’s organs are developing.
Second (weeks 14 to 27)	Still not recommended. Feeling better physically does not change the evidence gap.
Third (weeks 28 to birth)	Usually avoided. Skin is at peak sensitivity, lying flat is uncomfortable after about 20 weeks, and many areas are physically hard to treat.

Can you laser specific areas while pregnant?

The common pushback: “But it’s just my legs. That’s nowhere near the baby.” Fair point. But providers pause distant areas for reasons that have nothing to do with the laser reaching your baby. The reasons are about your skin.

• Face. Melasma, the dark patches sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy,” affects 50% to 70% of pregnant people (Bieber et al., Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2017). Laser on actively pigmented skin can lock that pigment in or make it worse.
• Underarms. Skin is more sensitive, and many people find treatment more painful during pregnancy.
• Bikini and Brazilian. Increased blood flow, vulvar varicosities, and heightened pain.
• Legs. Varicose veins and swelling are more common in pregnancy and can change how your skin tolerates the laser.
• Abdomen. Stretched, pigmented skin plus direct proximity to the uterus. Most providers refuse to treat the abdomen during pregnancy on principle.

Why does pregnancy cause more hair growth?

Pregnancy hormones rewrite your hair’s normal schedule.

Your hair grows in three phases: anagen (the growth phase), catagen (a short transition), and telogen (resting and shedding). Normally, about 85% to 90% of your hairs are in anagen at any given time (Paus and Cotsarelis, NEJM, 1999).

Estrogen during pregnancy keeps hairs in the growth phase longer. The proportion of growing hairs rises to about 95% (Lynfield, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1960). The result: hair you would normally shed stays put. Your hair looks thicker, and you may notice new hair on your face, belly, chest, and back. This pattern is called hirsutism (Cleveland Clinic).

This is usually temporary. After delivery, the cycle resets and the extra hairs shed at once. About 40% to 50% of postpartum people experience this shedding, called telogen effluvium, starting 2 to 4 months after birth and resolving within 6 to 12 months (Gizlenti and Ekmekci, JEADV, 2014).

This is also why laser results during pregnancy are unpredictable. Laser only kills hairs in the growth phase, and your hormones are shifting that ratio in ways that will not last.

What hair removal methods are safer during pregnancy?

For most pregnant people, the physical methods are fine. The American Pregnancy Association endorses shaving, tweezing, threading, and waxing during pregnancy.

Method	Pregnancy-safe?	Notes
Shaving	Yes	Use a clean razor. A long-handled razor or help from a partner gets easier as your belly grows.
Tweezing	Yes	Good for eyebrows, chin, and stray hairs.
Threading	Yes	Great for the face. No chemicals.
Waxing	Usually	Skin is more sensitive. Choose a clean salon and make sure the wax is not too hot.
Sugaring	Usually	Same cautions as waxing. Lower burn risk because the paste is at body temperature.
Depilatory creams	Use caution	Patch test first. Ask your provider.
Electrolysis	Usually avoid	Safety data is limited. The American Pregnancy Association recommends waiting.
Laser hair removal	Usually avoid	Most providers recommend postponing until after pregnancy.

When can you restart laser hair removal after pregnancy?

Most providers want you to wait at least until your postpartum check, and many prefer 3 to 6 months postpartum once your hormones settle and any pigmentation has faded.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends contact with your obstetric provider within the first 3 weeks postpartum, with a comprehensive postpartum visit by 12 weeks (ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736, 2018). The traditional 6-week visit remains a common scheduling default and a reasonable time to ask about restarting.

A few notes:

• If you had a C-section, give yourself extra time before treating anywhere near the incision.
• If you have ongoing melasma, wait until it fades before lasering your face.
• If you are breastfeeding, ask both your laser provider and your healthcare provider.

Is laser hair removal safe while breastfeeding?

Most providers consider laser hair removal more acceptable during breastfeeding than during pregnancy. You should still ask your doctor.

The 2017 IJWD review notes that laser energy doesn’t reach systemic circulation or breast milk, but the data on lactation is also limited. The standard advice: avoid treating your breasts and areolas, and check with your provider about numbing creams (Trivedi et al., 2017).

Topical lidocaine, the most common numbing cream used before laser, is considered compatible with breastfeeding by the NIH LactMed database when applied to small areas of intact skin. Prilocaine, found in EMLA cream, is also considered low-risk during breastfeeding for topical use on limited areas.

When should you talk to your doctor?

Call your OB-GYN, dermatologist, or healthcare provider if you:

• Already had laser while pregnant and feel anxious.
• See burns, blisters, severe swelling, pus, fever, or signs of infection on treated skin.
• Have a high-risk pregnancy.
• Have melasma, eczema, very sensitive skin, or a history of scarring.
• Are considering numbing creams, depilatory creams, or any topical product during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Bottom line: wait until after pregnancy

Most providers recommend pausing laser hair removal during pregnancy. The reason isn’t that laser is dangerous. The reason is that no one has studied it carefully in pregnant people, and because the procedure is elective, waiting is the cautious choice (Trivedi et al., 2017; American Pregnancy Association).

If you had a session before you knew you were pregnant, you almost certainly do not need to worry. Pause future sessions and tell your OB-GYN.

For now, stick with shaving, tweezing, threading, waxing, or sugaring. Ask your provider about restarting after your postpartum check, and give your hormones and skin time to settle, often 3 to 6 months.

Frequently asked questions

Can laser hair removal cause miscarriage?

No published case reports link laser hair removal to miscarriage (Trivedi et al., 2017). Providers still recommend pausing during pregnancy because the safety data is limited, not because miscarriage has been documented.

What happens if you get laser hair removal while pregnant?

You may have the usual skin side effects: redness, irritation, warmth, and sometimes dark patches. Pregnancy can make those reactions stronger because your skin is more sensitive (American Academy of Dermatology). It does not automatically mean your baby was harmed. Pause future sessions and tell your provider.

Can I get laser hair removal in the first trimester?

Most providers recommend avoiding laser hair removal in all trimesters, including the first. The first trimester is when your baby’s organs are developing, so many providers treat it especially cautiously.

Can I get laser hair removal on my face while pregnant?

Most providers will say no. Pregnancy hormones cause melasma in 50% to 70% of pregnant people (Bieber et al., 2017), and laser on actively pigmented skin can make it worse.

Does lasered hair grow back during pregnancy?

It can. Pregnancy hormones can stimulate new hair growth in areas you have already treated (American Academy of Dermatology, “Laser Hair Removal FAQs”). Most of this growth fades after delivery.

Is waxing safe during pregnancy?

Waxing is generally considered safe during pregnancy (American Pregnancy Association). Expect more sensitivity than usual, and choose a clean salon with wax that is not too hot.

Is electrolysis safe during pregnancy?

The American Pregnancy Association recommends waiting. Safety data is limited, and there are theoretical concerns about electrical current in areas near the uterus.

How soon after giving birth can I get laser hair removal?

Ask at your postpartum check, often around 6 weeks. Some people restart then; others wait 3 to 6 months for hormones and skin to settle.

Can I get laser hair removal while breastfeeding?

Often, yes, with precautions. Avoid your breasts and areolas, and ask your provider about numbing creams (Trivedi et al., 2017).

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Sources

• American Pregnancy Association. “Hair Removal During Pregnancy.” https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/hair-removal-during-pregnancy/
• American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Laser Hair Removal: FAQs.” https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/hair-removal/laser-hair-removal-faqs
• American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Pregnancy and Your Skin.” https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/face/pregnancy-skincare
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;131:e140–e150.
• Bieber AK, Martires KJ, Stein JA, Grant-Kels JM, Driscoll MS, Pomeranz MK. “Pigmentation and Pregnancy: Knowing What Is Normal.” Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2017;129(1):168–173.
• Cleveland Clinic. “Hair Changes During and After Pregnancy.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hair-changes-during-and-after-pregnancy
• Gizlenti S, Ekmekci TR. “The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period.” Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2014;28(7):878–881.
• ISUOG Practice Guidelines, 2022. https://www.isuog.org/clinical-resources/isuog-guidelines.html
• Lee KC, Korgavkar K, Dufresne RG, Higgins HW. “Safety of cosmetic dermatologic procedures during pregnancy.” Dermatologic Surgery. 2013;39(11):1573–1586.
• Lynfield YL. “Effect of pregnancy on the human hair cycle.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 1960;35:323–327.
• NIH LactMed Database. “Lidocaine.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500692/
• NIH LactMed Database. “Prilocaine.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501145/
• Paus R, Cotsarelis G. “The biology of hair follicles.” New England Journal of Medicine. 1999;341:491–497.
• Ross EV. “Laser versus intense pulsed light: Competing technologies in dermatology.” Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2006;38(4):261–272.
• Tanzi EL, Lupton JR, Alster TS. “Lasers in dermatology: Four decades of progress.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2003;49(1):1–31.
• The Bump. “Laser Hair Removal During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?” Quoting Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG. https://www.thebump.com/a/laser-hair-removal-while-pregnant
• Trivedi MK, Kroumpouzos G, Murase JE. “A review of the safety of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and lactation.” International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2017;3(1):6–10.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Removing Hair Safely.” https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/removing-hair-safely