Is it safe to use hair removal creams in pregnancy?

If your preferred method of hair removal is by using a depilatory cream, then you might worry about the ingredients and whether they are safe for you and your unborn baby.

The good news is that they are, so if using one of these creams is your usual choice, there is no need to stop.

The products work simply by altering the hair protein called keratin, which breaks the hair, allowing it to be wiped away or rinsed off with the product.

Do bear in mind...

There is a but with hair removing creams - although products like Veet and Nair are safe, the fragrances and chemicals they are made up of may irritate your skin, or trigger an allergic reaction, as you can have heightened sensitivity to skincare products during pregnancy.

You might also find the smell of them a bit overpowering once you are pregnant, too, as the fragrances used to mask the smell of the chemicals are quite strong, so, it's wise to have good ventilation in the room to avoid waves of nausea sweeping over you at an inopportune moment!

Using them safely

Always follow the advice on the packaging or advice leaflet of the product, and do not exceed application time, or use it on a part of the body it was not intended for. The expert advice generally is:

* ALWAYS do a patch test on a small area of skin first
* Don't use the cream on broken skin
* Make sure you follow the instructions carefully
* Make sure you use a product especially formulated for sensitive skin

You could also try waxing or some types of electrolysis during pregnancy for hair removal if you have become sensitive to your usual cream.

Mums on our forum say

“I used hair removing cream several times when pregnant with my DS. It is fine to use however I did find that my skin was a bit more sensitive than usual with it. So just made sure I washed it off more quickly!” Bliss

"I've used it and it was fine but did a patch test first just to be sure I didn't have a reaction." MummyR2B

*TMI warning - this next post may not be suitable if you're feeling a touch squeamish...

"Must just tell you all about my Veet disaster! Trying to sort myself out, I thought this was the easiest option. However with a huge bump blocking my view, I managed to get it on to my labia resulting in it swelling to twice the size, walking like John Wayne and having to sit in a cold bath to soothe myself. Thankfully the swelling has gone down now. My OH thought it was the funniest thing he had ever heard until i showed him the damage. Seriously I looked bigger than him!" loumurph