Pregnancy often causes many changes to the body — some unexpected. Here’s what you need to know to pamper yourself safely during pregnancy.

 

For some women, pregnancy is a beautiful experience; they love every minute. For others, it’s awkward, bringing unexpected discomfort, body changes, and surprising hair growth. Because of this, it is totally natural for pregnant women to seek out beauty services that may help them feel more comfortable in their skin, but it’s important to do so safely.

 

Many beauty treatments have not been proven to be safe during pregnancy. In order to do so, studies must be performed on pregnant women, and this simply isn’t worth the risk for anything other than completely necessary medical procedures. It is generally thought that treatments like laser hair removal have a low chance of complications or side effects, but there is insufficient proof of safety.

 

For the health and happiness of both mom and baby, it is recommended to wait until postpartum to pursue elective beauty treatments. For women choosing to breastfeed, the waiting period is extended.

 

The hormone fluctuations that occur during and after pregnancy can impact both hair and skin. A remarkable increase in estrogen during pregnancy causes more hair follicles to remain in the anagen phase, meaning more follicles are actively producing hair at once. This is the source of the long, shiny hair many pregnant women enjoy, but it can also cause similar growth of other body hair.

 

While these changes can feel like yet another motivator to pursue beauty treatments, the results are more predictable and consistent when a client’s hormones have stabilized.

 

After birth, as hormone levels begin to even out, all of the follicles that were previously in the anagen phase move to the shedding phase, essentially causing a higher rate of hair loss than most people experience without hormone fluctuations. Typically, this continues for a few months before everything stabilizes and your hair returns to its normal growth and shedding patterns. Waiting until this period to pursue beauty treatments like laser hair removal is the best way to avoid any unnecessary risk for yourself or your baby, and you can feel more confident in your results knowing that you are not treating a rapidly changing body.

 

Other safe beauty considerations

Still, pregnancy takes a toll on women’s bodies, and safe, accessible beauty treatments are an important form of self-care during the process. Consider working with your physician to identify some pregnancy-safe treatments that will lift you up and boost your comfort during and shortly after pregnancy.

 

Some facials are considered safe for pregnant women. Given that pregnancy hormones can cause changes in acne, light exfoliation, and unclogging pores are often a welcome treat. For full-body skin care, gentle body scrubs can be a great option. While your skin is changing, a moisturizing scrub almost always feels good, and it can also boost circulation—another added benefit.

As you make your way through pregnancy, remember to enjoy the process wherever possible. You are creating life, and you deserve to nurture yourself in safe, fulfilling ways! And, of course, once you are no longer pregnant and ready to pursue additional beauty services, there are plenty of options available. From laser hair removal to Morpheus8 body contouring, there are countless ways to treat yourself and work toward feeling more at home in your post-pregnancy body.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sevana Petrosian, founder of SEV was born to an Armenian family and came to the United States as a child. Her parents always exemplified to her the importance of helping others and taking an active part in the community. As a child, Sevana fell in love with beauty and aesthetics. She would play with skincare products and mix her own creams and lotions that she would gift to her friends and family. It was clear that she was destined for a career in the beauty industry.