Laser hair removal is a very commonly used cosmetic treatment option, that is used to permanently annihilate unpleasant body hairs. These are primarily treated to remove hairs from the face, legs, hands, armpits, bikini area, and abdomen.
Although it is a familiar option, most of them are buzzing about the potential infertility risks associated with laser therapy. If you are planning to undergo laser hair removal treatment and fertility is your concern, we have you covered, as this blog could potentially solve your doubts.
Does laser hair removal lead to infertility?
To the question of whether laser hair removal causes infertility, the simple answer is ‘No’. Laser hair removal in the reproductive areas doesn’t affect your fertility, as the laser only penetrates less than one millimeter into the skin and it cannot penetrate further into the ovaries or any other internal organs.
Thus it is safe to undergo laser hair removal in your private places if fertility is your primary concern. However, if you are actively trying for pregnancy, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before undergoing laser therapy.
Myths & facts about laser hair removal & fertility
Myth: Laser hair removal affects reproductive organs
Fact: Lasers only penetrate a few millimeters within the skin surface and don’t penetrate further until reaching the internal and reproductive organs.
Myth: Radiations caused by laser hair removal therapy could affect fertility
Fact: The laser used for hair removal is non-ionized radiation, that does not have the energy to affect the DNA in the cells or the reproductive cells like ionized radiations.
Myth: Repetitive laser hair removal sessions could cause infertility.
Fact: There is no proven evidence that the number of laser hair removal sessions could cause infertility.
Side effects caused by laser hair removal
During the post-laser hair removal session, people could experience certain side effects like:
- Temporary skin irritation caused by redness, swelling, and mild discomfort in the area where the hair is removed.
- Some people have experienced a temporary change in the pigmentation of the skin. Where some had skin darkening and some had lightening of the skin.
- In rare cases, some individuals had crusting or blistering in the treated area.
- Temporary mild sensitivity is felt in the treated area, especially in the sensitive parts such as the bikini line and underarms.
- Treating this near the eyes or surrounding areas could cause eye injury and infection.
Comparing laser hair removal to other methods
Alternative hair removal techniques
If you are still not convinced to undergo the laser hair removal process, you may consider the following alternative methods to remove hair without any lasers or other mechanical equipment.
Waxing
It involves applying wax on the skin where the hair needs to be removed, waiting until the wax gets hard, and pulling it off in the opposite direction to remove hair from that particular place. These methods are effective and can last longer than regular shaving.
Sugaring
This is similar to the waxing process but uses a paste containing sugar, lemon juice, and water. It is one of the gentler methods to remove your unwanted hair.
Threading
This is one of the fundamental methods to eliminate unwanted hairs, where a cotton thread is twisted to pluck the hair out from the follicles.
Long-term effects
The long-term effects caused by laser hair removal are rare. The rare cases develop when the hair follicles are self-removed using home laser kits or an untrained person. Here are some of the rare long-term side effects caused by improper laser removals.
- Excessive hair growth in the area after treatment.
- Changes the overall texture and pigmentation of the skin.
- People with sensitive skin can develop scars easily.
- Immediate exposure to sunlight or other hot temperatures could cause blisters and skin crusting.
Choose the best clinic to treat your infertility
If you have infertility issues and mistook your previous laser hair removal as the cause, this could be the biggest myth breaker. It is always suggested to consult the best clinic to treat your infertility issues. Treating your infertility at an earlier stage could help reduce the risks and carry a healthy lifestyle.
Choose the best clinics in the town that have high success rates and well-trained professionals.
Conclusion
Laser hair removal treatments are generally safe and are one of the most effective processes to annihilate unwanted hairs in the body. They do not have any direct association with fertility in both men and women.
However, it is not recommended for pregnant women, although there isn’t any evidence that it affects pregnancy. It is always recommended to consider a doctor before undergoing laser therapy, to analyze your skin and discuss the risks involved.
FAQs
No, laser hair removal is harmless and does not cause any effects on male fertility, although when the laser treatment is carried out near a private area.
There is no proven evidence that laser hair removal could affect the pregnancy. However, it is suggested to consult a doctor or better try to postpone the laser therapy post-pregnancy.
Laser hair removal has no long-term health risks, however, in rare cases could affect the skin, but they are temporary and are treatable with basic ointments.
