Pregnancy is a time when concerns about appearance can become very evident for a woman. The constant changes in her body, combined with a sea of hormones, often make a woman feel uncomfortable with her own body during this period, which ends up leading them to undergo various types of aesthetic treatments for hair, such as lightening body hair during pregnancy or even waxing.

Various skin treatments like moisturizing and exfoliation, for example, and also hair treatments, like progressive straightening, permanent straightening, and many others we could mention here. Of course, such concern about beauty is not exclusive to pregnant women. There is a social construct in which most existing treatments today are targeted toward a female audience, and the great truth is that women do consume these types of services a lot.

Wax or Bleach

Concern about body hair, for example, was for a long time an exclusively female issue, especially when it comes to hair removal. But when you are pregnant and the desire to undergo some aesthetic treatment is strong, you must be careful with what can affect both the mother and the baby, even if it’s just lightening body hair, since this is a very delicate time for a woman’s body.

Knowing whether it is allowed or healthy to lighten body hair during pregnancy is one of the most frequently asked questions by women who wish to undergo cosmetic treatments while pregnant, no matter the reason.

But to answer this question in a clear way so that everyone can understand it well, it is necessary to understand some concepts, such as what exactly hair bleaching is and what effects it has on our bodies.

What is Hair Bleaching?

Hair bleaching is nothing more than a type of dyeing process that changes the color of hair, usually dark, to lighter shades, hence the term “lighten.”

Main Risks of Hair Bleaching

A woman who undergoes this type of process faces various risks1, such as:

  • Burns
  • Skin spots
  • Redness and itching
  • Allergy
  • Eczema
  • Urticaria

These problems occur because various chemical substances are used in the hair bleaching process and many of these products can be harmful to the skin, especially when combined with other factors. First of all, the time: the risk of burns is much greater and almost certain if the woman bleaching her hair leaves the products on longer than indicated.

Secondly, sun exposure, which can also be a major issue, although many say it can help enhance the blonde aspect of the hair. In this case, excessive sun exposure can also cause several problems when combined with the chemical elements in these products.

For these reasons, many women recommend alternative cosmetic treatments, like waxing, for example, which will cause much less long-term skin damage than bleaching, especially in the facial area, where marks from incorrect use of chemicals can even turn into scars that may last a lifetime.

Is Lightening Body Hair During Pregnancy Harmful?

As we mentioned earlier, this type of process can be harmful to women even when they are not pregnant. So the main question here is: Is lightening body hair during pregnancy harmful to the baby? Let’s analyze this now.

First of all, it is important to point out that there is not enough research on this subject to give a definitive answer as to whether this process is harmful to the baby or not. However, there is evidence pointing to highly probable outcomes, and for this reason doctors recommend that women do not lighten body hair during pregnancy2.

Mainly because of the aforementioned chemical products used in this type of treatment. Many of them may contain ammonia, a toxic substance that, if it comes into contact with the blood, can cause birth defects in the fetus.

In fact, for this same reason, doctors do not recommend that pregnant women dye their hair. Even with a lack of specific studies on the topic, the risk involved is very great for a woman to undergo the treatment, and so the recommendation is not to do it, at least not the conventional way.

Bleaching Alternatives for Pregnant Women

Even with the contraindications, many pregnant women still wish to have their body hair lightened, both to feel good about themselves and to not lose a habit they have had all their lives.
In such cases, there are a few alternatives that may not always be as effective, but ensure both the health of the mother and the baby. The main alternatives are:

  • Chamomile Tea
  • Hydrogen Peroxide

Chamomile Tea

For those who have not very dark hair, this is the perfect option. Chamomile tea, when applied for a few minutes to the hair, allows a woman to lighten body hair during pregnancy without any risk. Unfortunately, for those with very dark hair, this alternative may not help much.

Hydrogen Peroxide

It is important to say that not all types of hydrogen peroxide are recommended for pregnant women, only the weaker types that do not contain ammonia3. Being in a well-ventilated environment helps the process and prevents any burns, however minor.

Doing some beauty treatments is part of the routine for many women, and it can be a shock for some when such treatments need to be interrupted due to pregnancy. It is always important to remember that alternatives exist for many of these cosmetic procedures and that, no matter the reason, there are ways to perform various types of treatments without harming your health or your baby’s health.

Although it is very important and should not be neglected, cosmetic care still needs to take a backseat, because when it comes to your health during pregnancy, it’s also about another life inside you.

And that is why lightening body hair during pregnancy becomes such a complex issue, although the alternatives mentioned here can help a woman who really wants this type of treatment.

See Also: What Can Pregnant Women Do and Not Do?
Photo: Free-Photos