How will hair dye and bleach affect my unborn? If so, what type of defects?

Question

I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant, but i bleached my facial hair about 3 times using sally hansen and dyed my brows once during my first trimester. Guess at that point it just did not occur to me that I could be harming my unborn. I'm totally worried now.

Answer 1

Nope, that's an old wive's tale. Modern bleech and dyes are not strong enough to absorb through your skin and into you blood stream. Especially in small amount like what you would've used for facial hair.

The only harm it could cause is making you nauseous from the smell!

Answer 2

Unlikely to be dangerous, but it's not wise to risk it.

If there's not too much facial hair, do you really need to do anything? Most guys are OK about women with, for example, a slight moustache.

If you do decide you have to do something, then there isn't a simple answer.

Facial (and also body) hair on women comes about in the same way as on men because of

1) your body being sensitized, before you were even born, to testosterone -- doesn't happen to all girls, but does to many

2) your body producing high levels of testosterone

The growth rate and coarseness of the hair depends on just how much testosterone is circulating in your bloodstream.

Steer clear of bleaching -- when someone sees you against the light you'll look as if you have a glowing moustache and/or beard.

As far as removing it is concerned it's worth remembering that

* Waxing, plucking, threading, epilating all pull the hair out by the roots and where the growth is hormonally-driven can actually stimulate a dormant follicle into producing more hair quicker. They also distort the root if done repeatedly, leading to hair growing at strange angles. And you've got to let the hair grow to quite a length before you can repeat the exercise. It can also damage the skin and discolor it. Long-term use of waxing also causes bad wrinkles.

* Chemical depilatories strong enough to remove the hair are very likely to burn the skin, cause swelling and cause long-term discoloration of the skin.

* Laser is also liable to cause burning and discoloration and in any case only works effectively on a dark hair/light skin combinantion.

* Electrolysis is very liable to cause scarring and discoloration of the skin.

Which, like it or not, leaves shaving which does not damage the skin. Best done with a men's-style electric razor, the best of which, for women, are probably those from the men's range of Norelco razors (Philishave outside the US). Most women who try a men's Norelco wonder why nobody ever told them about it before.

Answer 3

I had my hair dyed every 6-8 weeks all through my pregnancy, and had my Dr.'s OK to do it. My son is now almost a year old and has no problems.

Unless you ingest some of the chemicals, or something really wierd like that, there's hardly any of it that actually sinks into your skin and gets into your blood stream (even then, it wouldn't automatically reach the baby, they have their own blood stream).

The most dangerous thing that will happen is that the smell of it will be much stronger now that you're pregnant, and it will make you want to throw up.

You're totally fine, but if you're still worried, tell your Doc at the next visit, and he or she can reassure you too.

Answer 4

Well, stop worrying. But, you should also stay away from dying, and bleaching. It is the fumes which are harmful to your baby.
Oxygen deprivation is very bad, I'm sure you're already read why.

Answer 5

Actually ,I was always told not to do it because hormone fluctuations, etc... during pregnancy can have an effect on the results. You could have a bad skin reaction due to increased sensitivity, or have color that comes out wacky because your body chemistry has changed. As with everything...I think it is just precationary.

Answer 6

I dyed my hair in both my pregnancy and I was OK, the babies OK. U should read about it before making a decision.
parents.berkeley.edu/advice/beauty/color_safety.html
www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/isitsafeto/colourorpermhairexpert/
parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/psafe/0,,midwife_3p4z,00.html -

Answer 7

they say that u could dye ur hais after 3 months but try not to smell the dye or the bleached thing!!

Answer 8

Not enough of the chemical is absorbed into the blood stream to affect your baby; relax, everything is fine.

Answer 9

no i have pregnant friends who work in salons, and its fine.
try not to breathe in too many fumes though ok

Answer 10

It is NOT fine. Speak to a trusted doctor. Your baby's health is more important than the color of your hair.