Waxing During Pregnancy: When Should You Avoid & Precautions to Take

Hormonal changes during pregnancy may bring about wonderful changes in your complexion, skin, and hair. But they can also promote undesirable and unnecessary hair growth in surprising places like the stomach, upper lip, armpits, chin, pubic area, and around the nipples (1). Excessive hair is not damaging in any way, but it can make a woman feel self-conscious. If you have excessive hair growth during pregnancy, you may consider various options to get rid of them, waxing being the first one. But should you wax during pregnancy? Since pregnancy is a delicate time for both the mother and her baby, it is crucial that extreme caution is taken in whatever is done during pregnancy, and that includes waxing during pregnancy 1st trimester or waxing during the 3rd trimester. If you are looking for a clear establishment between pregnancy and waxing, scroll through our expert-validated post.

Is it Safe to Wax When Pregnant?

There is no substantial proof available which establishes that getting waxed is unsafe during pregnancy (2). However, it may be fruitful to bear a few things in mind, either while waxing at home or getting it done at a salon. This may be done to ensure that you are not exposed to any risk of getting infected. Also, it is always sensible to conduct a patch test on your skin before getting waxed when pregnant.

Benefits of Waxing During Pregnancy

Let’s talk about some oh-so-good sides of getting waxed during pregnancy:

1. Feeling Fresh and Clean

One thing for sure about waxing is the feeling of being clean and fresh. Pregnancy may throw various issues at you, like morning sickness or swelling. Among such things, a little self-care and pampering can be beneficial in making you feel fresh and like the old you.

2. Ingrown Hair Tussle

Shaving is good, but ingrown hair and irritation due to shaving is not. Waxing pulls out hair from roots and keeps ingrown hair at bay. Thus, no hidden hair drama for the mama.

When Should You Avoid Waxing in Pregnancy?

Waxing during pregnancy is usually believed to be harmless. But there are certain cases when you should avoid waxing or getting waxed during pregnancy:

• Melasma, or the mask of pregnancy, is a kind of skin condition that causes brown patches to appear on the face of a pregnant woman (3). It is advisable to avoid waxing in such a condition as waxing can further irritate the skin and worsen the condition.
• If your skin tends to get particularly itchy or irritable during pregnancy, it is best that you avoid waxing as it may lead to breakouts or underskin growth.
• Waxing may also be evaded during pregnancy if the skin has rashes or scarred tissues, as this may cause eruptions and acne.
• If you have varicose veins during pregnancy, refrain from waxing.
• Avoid waxing if your skin has moles or warts, pimples, or lumps, as this may lead to broken skin, which can get infected.
• If you have a sunburn, you must avoid waxing during pregnancy as it can flare up the skin.

Precautions to Be Taken

Certain precautions can be taken by pregnant women while waxing during pregnancy:

• While using home kits, carefully handle the hot wax to prevent any instance of burning or scalding yourself, which can develop infection later.
• It is sensible to check the hygiene and cleanliness of the salon before selecting it for waxing.
• You may like to make sure that the spatula being used to spread wax is clean or unshared, the wax strips or wax is not reused among clients, and the technician is wearing gloves.
• It is strongly recommended that a patch test be performed on a small part of the skin to assess for possible reactions or irritation.
• Also, it is advisable to determine that the technician at the salon is a trained and experienced person who can use the correct technique and choose a suitable wax for you.

Will Waxing Be Painful?

The fluctuating hormone levels during pregnancy may produce more hair which is not only thicker but also regrows faster. The ever-changing hormones may also lead to the retaining of fluid in the body, causing swelling of the legs, feet, face, and hands. This may make the skin extra sensitive and irritable. Therefore, some expecting women may experience more pain than usual while getting waxed when pregnant. However, it varies from person to person as everyone has a different threshold for enduring pain. Moreover, when hair starts to regrow because it was removed with force, it may cause painful breakouts and possible infection. So, it is always prudent to consult a doctor if you have doubts.

Can You Get a Bikini Wax in Pregnancy?

Most pregnant women are quite apprehensive when it comes to getting their bikini line waxed. If you do opt for a bikini wax during pregnancy, keep in mind that it may not be as comfortable as before. This is because the enhanced blood flow to the skin may make regrowth and removal of hair in the pelvic area more painful. It may be essential to take regular breaks while waxing to contain the stress and pain levels. Also, waxing may not be altogether advisable in certain cases. Waxing can lead to possible breakage of small blood vessels, which can get infected with bacteria or germs. Moreover, many hospitals offer to clean the pubic area at the time of delivery.

Skin Care After Waxing

To reduce possible irritation or inflammation, you may apply a soothing pregnancy-safe lotion or aloe vera gel after waxing. Some aloe vera lotions are anaesthetics that may provide some relief from the pain of waxing. For some time, you may like to avoid using dyes or perfumes and products containing chemicals. Also, avoid exposure to direct sunlight straight after waxing. It may be a good idea to apply a pregnancy-safe antiseptic cream in case of breakouts to soothe the skin after consulting the doctor.

Alternatives to Waxing in Pregnancy

Not everyone can handle waxing; sometimes, the skin is sensitive, which makes it feel itchy and inflamed. Sometimes, you just can’t handle the pain. Alternatives are always there.

1. Shaving is the number one alternative to waxing while pregnant and also in general days. As pregnancy progresses, you may have some difficulty shaving some areas and may need your partner’s help.
2. For smaller areas like nipples and eyebrows, you may try tweezers to remove one or two unwanted hair that pops unwanted hair that pop up. 
3. Threading for lips and eyebrows is also popular.
4. Hair removal creams during pregnancy can be considered. According to the NCT, chemical depilatories or depilatory creams like hair removal creams are safe for pregnancy. However, hair removal creams are not recommended for the genital area as the area is quite delicate and sensitive and could cause irritation (5). It is advised to consult your doctor before using depilatory creams (4) (6).
5. According to an expert view on ACOG, laser hair removal during pregnancy is often asked about. During pregnancy, your skin becomes more sensitive to burns and scars. A laser treatment could put a pregnant woman at risk due to sensitivity to burns (5). Since there are substantial studies on the same, it is better to consult a doctor and inform them about the pregnancy before proceeding.

FAQs

1. Should you shave or wax during pregnancy?

Waxing and shaving are both safe during pregnancy. Remember to take precautions and aftercare after waxing or shaving.

2. Can I wax over stretch marks?

Yes, you can wax over stretch marks. It is safe and does not cause any infection or any pain at the site of stretch marks.

3. Is it safe to have bikini wax in the third trimester of pregnancy?

It is advised to avoid bikini wax in the last leg of pregnancy when you are close to giving birth.

4. Can waxing cause miscarriage?

No, there is no evidence that claims any relation between waxing and miscarriage.

Pregnancy is a beautiful chapter of life. It may present certain challenges, but nothing should stop you from enjoying this phase. So revel in your pregnancy glow rather than worrying about things that can easily be tackled.

References/Resources:

1. 10 Things That Might Surprise You About Being Pregnant; Nemours KidsHealth; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/pregnancy.html

2. Skin Conditions During Pregnancy; ACOG; https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/Skin-Conditions-During-Pregnancy?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=otn

3. Melasma; Cleveland Clinic; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21454-melasma

4. Which beauty and wellbeing treatments are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?; NCT; https://www.nct.org.uk/information/pregnancy/wellbeing-and-lifestyle-pregnancy/which-beauty-and-wellbeing-treatments-are-safe-during-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding

5. To Shave or Not to Shave: An Ob-Gyn’s Guide to Pubic Hair Care; ACOG; https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/to-shave-or-not-to-shave-an-ob-gyns-guide-to-pubic-hair-care

6. Skin Care, Hair Care and Cosmetic Treatments in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding; Royal Hospital for Women; https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/groups/Royal_Hospital_for_Women/Mothersafe/documents/skinhaircareandcosmetictreatmentsapril2021.pdf

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