Beauty Products and Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy Retina-A, Retinol, and Retinyl Palmitate. These vitamin A derivatives and others can cause dangerous birth defects. Hormonal fluctuations and increased androgen production that occur during pregnancy can lead to acne. While we know that strong medications like Accutane should be avoided, the jury disagrees with the most common acne-fighting ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
Sometimes, pregnant women experience melasma, a pigmentation of the skin, also known as a “pregnancy mask”. Although it usually goes away after pregnancy, women may be tempted to use an over-the-counter topical treatment, many of which contain hydroquinone. And although studies have not linked hydroquinone to any particular adverse effects, its high absorption 35 to 45 percent is worrying to experts. Some anti-aging skin care products use a type of retinol called retinoids, which have become a holy grail because they can help reverse acne and reduce fine lines.
Retinoids do this by helping superficial skin cells to exfoliate faster and by increasing collagen production to rejuvenate the skin. Prescription retinoids such as Accutane have been widely documented to have a 20-35 percent risk of serious birth defects, and up to 60 percent of children show neurocognitive problems with exposure in utero. Hydroquinone is a prescription product to lighten the skin or reduce skin pigmentation caused by melasma and chloasma, which can be caused by pregnancy. Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals found in many beauty and personal products.
In animal studies, severe reproductive and hormone dysfunction has been linked to exposure to phthalates. You don't need to use any more sunscreen, Dr. Zhang says: “But you should try to use it diligently because of the increased risk of developing melasma (the condition that discolors the skin caused by pregnancy hormones). Pregnant people should apply sunscreen every day in the morning with their normal moisturizer, and then again every two hours if you are going to be outdoors for long periods of time.
This could mean setting an alarm on your phone that goes off every two hours, especially if you're planning things like long days at the beach or all-day hikes. As for topical retinoids, it is better to avoid them as well. Sold as Avage, Differin, Renova, Retin-A, Retinols, Retinyl Palmitate, and Tazorac. Although very little of the drug is absorbed into the skin, a handful of studies suggest, in fact, a link to birth defect.
Taking the guesswork out of what my new routine should look like is getting Harley. An online consultation platform that gives you access to London's most in-demand skincare experts (whose waiting lists usually last months) for just 30 pounds and in as little as a week. The type of professionals you have access to are award-winning Dr. Sophie Shotter, Dr.
Alia Ahmed, psychodermology and famous facialists such as Debbie Thomas and Nichola Joss. With the products that arrived quickly a few days later, I was all set. My new routine consisted of 4 steps in the morning and 3 steps in the evening, costing 373 pounds sterling for three months. I had stopped taking my usual vitamin C in the first three months of pregnancy due to irritation, but Dr.
M says it's worth giving him another shot, but this time with a lower dose. For your information, 10 percent is the minimum percentage of L-ascorbic acid you need to apply to achieve results. Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you can't go to the beach. Even sunscreens with ingredients that penetrate the skin are considered safe during pregnancy.
However, as an added precaution, you can opt for products that use titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, physical sunscreens that do not penetrate the skin. Deciding whether to use products that contain the following ingredients is a personal choice that is best done with your doctor. A very credible resource for learning more about skin care and ingredient safety in personal products is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). If you have had an allergic skin reaction to hair minimizers or depilatory creams in the past, you should also avoid these products during pregnancy.
While there are still many products that can help you look (and feel) your best, today you'll need to read the ingredient lists a little closer. Not only that, but with so much conflicting information and products available, decision fatigue is real. Because I've still been using an acid peel every three weeks or so (my dear Drunk Elephant Baby Facial, FYI), Dr. Mennie said he should be fine with a glycolic serum at night and that this will help promote the production of elastin and collagen.
In addition to choosing products that are safe for your developing baby, you should change your skincare routine to help with common pregnancy-related skin problems. While all women respond differently to skincare ingredients based on individual factors, such as skin type and sensitivities, there are some strict rules about what to avoid during pregnancy. Here's a look at skincare ingredients to avoid, ingredients to discuss with your doctor, and pregnancy-friendly alternatives. Be sure to look for a product at a concentration of 10% and in active form l-ascorbic acid.
The amount of retinoids absorbed by topical products is likely to be low, but birth defects have been linked to higher doses. These digital-first beauty companies are able to create precise routines so that the products you use truly meet your needs. But if you ever have questions about a skin care product and if it is safe to use while breastfeeding, always contact your obstetrician or dermatologist. It also helps relieve dryness, which can be exacerbated by dead skin that does not allow products to penetrate properly, she explains.
To be safe, stay away from OTC retinol serums and other anti-aging products that also contain retinol. . .
