Can Pregnancy Reverse “permanent” Laser Hair Removal? Sophie Habboo Sparks Discussion

When Made successful Chelsea prima Sophie Habboo revealed that gestation had “completely undone” her laser hairsbreadth removal, galore agreeing women sympathised pinch her.

Speaking connected her Nearly Parents podcast pinch hubby Jamie Laing, Habboo vented:

“The infinitesimal you get pregnant, each of your hairsbreadth comes back! Waste of f****** money!”

The clip went viral connected socials, pinch tens of thousands of views and likes. But immoderate dermatologists opportunity what she’s experiencing is wholly normal and is simply a impermanent hormonal broadside effect, not a imperishable setback.

Laser hairsbreadth removal is imperishable reduction, not removal

Despite celebrated perception, laser hairsbreadth removal doesn’t destruct each follicle forever.
According to nan US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it offers “long-term, unchangeable simplification successful hairsbreadth regrowth” – meaning that results tin beryllium influenced by hormonal changes, medication, aliases pregnancy.

A StatPearls (2023) dermatology review notes that laser-treated follicles tin go progressive again erstwhile exposed to awesome hormonal fluctuations. In different words: gestation whitethorn trigger immoderate regrowth, but it doesn’t “undo” laser treatment, it simply activates dormant follicles temporarily.

Pregnancy hormones tin alteration nan hairsbreadth maturation cycle

Pregnancy raises levels of oestrogen, progesterone and androgens, extending nan anagen (growth) shape of nan hairsbreadth cycle.
Dr Aleksander Godic, advisor dermatologist astatine nan Harley Street Dermatology Clinic, told Vogue UK,

“Pregnancy triggers profound hormonal changes. These hormones tin stimulate dormant follicles to participate maturation – moreover those antecedently damaged by laser whitethorn retrieve partial function.”

Similarly, Dr Dendy Engelman, a dermatologist interviewed by Ulike, said,

“The hormonal changes of gestation tin reactivate dormant follicles to turn thicker and longer hair. But it doesn’t mean your laser results are gone – they’re simply disrupted temporarily.”

Real-life results of laser hairsbreadth removal

I decided to effort laser hairsbreadth removal successful nan UK aft being recommended by a friend. I paid £1,500 for six sessions connected my underarms, afloat legs and bikini. After 2 sessions, I saw a immense simplification – my legs were almost hair-free, and nan regrowth was finer and softer. However, aft giving birth, almost each my bikini area has grown back, positive my underarms, and astir a 3rd of my limb hair. The hairsbreadth that has grown backmost is little thick, and I wouldn’t norm retired going for immoderate top-up sessions, arsenic I dislike each different forms of hairsbreadth removal.

Some experts counsel that postpartum top-up sessions tin quickly reconstruct smoothness erstwhile hormone levels stabilise – typically wrong 3 to six months aft birth.

Molly from EWN said,

“I’ve had hairsbreadth laser removal, but aft having my daughter… €600 in, and it’s still not 100% gone successful immoderate areas. It’s very frustrating.”

Emma, primitively from Scotland and now surviving successful Manilva, said,

“I sewage a Philips Lumea years agone – it’s really good. But aft kids, I noticed quicker and thicker hairsbreadth growth, positive caller hairs successful different places.”

A 2023 study published by nan Journal of nan Faculty of Medicine Baghdad recovered that location IPL devices achieved astir 70 per cent mean hairsbreadth reduction, making them a useful attraction option, particularly erstwhile hormonal cycles normalise.

Expert view: impermanent regrowth, not reversal

UK-based Daisy McCarthy – proprietor of nan tegument and laser session ME Aesthetics successful Oakwood – told EWN,

“In my master acquisition [13 years], immoderate hairsbreadth tin return aft gestation moreover erstwhile laser hairsbreadth removal had antecedently been effective.
Hormonal changes during and aft gestation tin reactivate dormant follicles, starring to partial regrowth – but it seldom returns to nan aforesaid density arsenic earlier treatment.
Most clients find that erstwhile hormone levels settle, a fewer attraction sessions reconstruct their results. Laser hairsbreadth removal still remains nan astir effective semipermanent method of hairsbreadth simplification available, and prices person go overmuch much affordable – often not overmuch different from nan costs of regular waxing.”

When to safely resume laser treatments postpartum

Experts mostly urge waiting 3 to six months postpartum earlier returning for laser treatments. This allows hormone levels to stabilise and helps clinics measure your hairsbreadth maturation shape much accurately.

Dr Godic explains that astir women only request 1–3 top-ups to reconstruct their results. For much extended regrowth, up to six sessions whitethorn beryllium required.

If breastfeeding, consult your dermatologist first, arsenic immoderate hormonal fluctuations whitethorn proceed for longer. I personally breastfed for 18 months, and I wonderment if this is what caused my regrowth.

The bottommost line? Pregnancy whitethorn origin hairsbreadth to return temporarily, but laser results are not wholly lost. Once hormones stabilise, a fewer top-ups are usually each it takes to get soft tegument again.

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View each articles by Letara Draghia.