Laser hair removal during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The short answer

• Pregnancy: there's no evidence that laser hair removal harms the unborn child, but there's also hardly any data showing that it's safe. That's why caution applies
• Breastfeeding: no effect on breastfeeding has been shown; we still only treat afterwards
• Instead: shaving, trimming, waxing or threading; hair removal cream only with care and on small areas
• Afterwards: it's best to discuss when to start with your gynaecologist or midwife

Why there's no laser treatment during pregnancy

The reason is not that harm has been proven. The reason is that there's hardly any data: controlled studies on laser treatments during pregnancy are lacking.

A 2019 systematic review collected everything that had been published on laser treatments of the skin during pregnancy: 22 papers between 1960 and 2017, mostly case reports and case series, around 380 women in total. No significant harm to mother or child was described, and the authors write that laser treatments during pregnancy appeared to be safe. But they themselves name two limitations: the evidence is weak, and randomised studies are lacking. And laser hair removal was not included in any of the papers analysed – they dealt with medical treatments, for example of genital warts. Experts generally do not currently recommend elective laser treatments for pregnant women.

A 2017 review of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and breastfeeding comes to a clear recommendation: during pregnancy, hair should be removed by waxing, shaving and topical products, not with procedures designed to work long-term. The Australian government health portal "Pregnancy, Birth and Baby" also points to the limited research and advises asking a doctor before light-based treatments.

For us, this means: we would rather postpone a treatment that can wait a few months than take a risk that nobody can reliably assess.

Hormones change hair growth

During pregnancy, hormones also affect the hair. Many women find the hair on their head becomes thicker. On the body, some women grow fine new hairs, especially along the midline of the lower abdomen. In others, hairs become coarser and darker in the second half of pregnancy – more often in women with dark hair.

Much of this is temporary: according to the dermatology reference DermNet, fine new hairs often disappear about six months after the birth, while coarser ones are more likely to stay. That's a second reason not to use the laser during pregnancy: you would be treating hairs that might disappear anyway, and the result is harder to predict. If you notice unusually strong new hair growth, mention it to your gynaecologist.

Skin and pigment during pregnancy

The skin changes too. It becomes darker in some places, for example along the linea nigra on the stomach, and many pregnant women develop dark patches on the face (melasma) in the second half of pregnancy, which usually fade again after the birth. This matters for the laser: darker skin absorbs more light, and according to the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz), the risk of unwanted side effects increases with darker skin. More on this in the article Laser hair removal side effects and risks.

And while breastfeeding?

According to "Pregnancy, Birth and Baby", there's no evidence that laser hair removal affects breastfeeding or the breastfed baby. We still only treat once you've finished breastfeeding, as also stated in our FAQ.

On top of that, hair growth needs time to readjust after the birth. Many women lose a noticeable amount of hair from their head in the months afterwards because their oestrogen levels drop. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, hair loss peaks around four months after the birth, and for most women hair grows normally again by the child's first birthday.

Hair removal during pregnancy: what you can do instead

• Shaving or trimming is the easiest. As your bump grows, a mirror or a trimmer for the intimate area helps. You'll find tips against razor burn in the article Ingrown hairs and razor burn.
• Waxing can also be done during pregnancy and breastfeeding, according to "Pregnancy, Birth and Baby". On the face, threading is an option.
• Hair removal cream is generally one of the options. However, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung) generally advises applying such creams only to limited areas of skin and not over large areas, following the manufacturer's instructions closely and avoiding contact with mucous membranes. Test the cream on a small area first, and if you're unsure, ask at the pharmacy or a doctor.

The article Hair removal: all methods compared gives an overview of all methods with their pros and cons.

Planning a baby, taking a break or starting again

Planning a pregnancy? A course of laser treatment for permanent^¹ hair reduction usually takes six months to a year, with 6 to 10 sessions 4 to 6 weeks apart. If you want to finish beforehand, factor this into your planning.

¹ Permanent hair reduction requires several treatments, depending on the body area and the individual hair and skin type. Success cannot be guaranteed, even when the treatment is carried out professionally. On light, red, grey or white hair, the treatment is ineffective or only partially effective.

Became pregnant in the middle of a course? Then simply take a break. You'll continue after pregnancy and breastfeeding; the result will just come later. Hormonal changes can mean that individual hairs come back and an additional session is needed.

When to start again? The sources we reviewed don't give a generally fixed point in time after the birth or after you stop breastfeeding. Talk to your gynaecologist or midwife. At the initial consultation, we take a fresh look at your skin and hair afterwards, because both may have changed since the last session.

FAQ

Sources

1. Wilkerson EC, Van Acker MM, Bloom BS, Goldberg DJ: Utilization of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Fetal Effects Reported From 1960 to 2017. Dermatol Surg 2019;45(6):818–828. doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000001912
2. Trivedi MK, Kroumpouzos G, Murase JE: A review of the safety of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and lactation. Int J Womens Dermatol 2017;3(1):6–10. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28492048
3. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Healthdirect Australia, on behalf of the Australian Government): Cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as of October 2025. pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/cosmetic-procedures-during-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding
4. DermNet: Skin changes in pregnancy (Oakley A, Stanway A), updated July 2021. dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-changes-in-pregnancy
5. American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss in new moms. aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/new-moms
6. Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung: Enthaarungscreme nicht großflächig auftragen. Presseinformation 22/2011. bfr.bund.de/presseinformation/enthaarungscreme-nicht-grossflaechig-auftragen
7. Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz: Dauerhafte Haarentfernung (Epilation). bfs.de/DE/themen/opt/anwendung-medizin-wellness/epilation/epilation.html
8. NiSV. gesetze-im-internet.de/nisv

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