Search for “pregnancy safe skin care ” and you’ll find a whole bunch of articles with conflicting information on what is OK to use and what is absolutely off limits. Below is final information from trusted dermatologists you can rely on.
But fear not! There are plenty of safe and effective ingredients that you can use to maintain your signature pregnancy “glow.” Here, we debunk myths and break down the list of the worst and best products for your pregnancy skin care routine.
The myths about pregnancy and skin care:
Pregnancy is a wonderful time but it can also be scary with all of the information floating around out there about what you can and cannot safely do, and as many pregnant women know, this extends to skin care.
“The biggest myth is that all products are dangerous,” says Sadick. “While there are several ingredients to avoid, there are myriad of products that are absolutely safe. It’s very important to protect your skin from sun damage and keep it hydrated and well-nourished during pregnancy.”
Another myth according to Chiu? The “if the product’s available at the drug store, it must be safe” one. “If you look at the fine print, even most OTC products, including benzoyl peroxides and salicylic acids, which are common OTC skincare ingredients, typically advise you to discuss with a physician during pregnancy,” she says. “There are actually very few ‘proven via studies’-safe ingredients, but they include vitamin C and glycolic acids.”
The safety of different products is not the only concern in an expecting mother’s skin care regimen—there’s also the preventative and restorative measures taken for those annoying stretch marks. Another myth, according to Dr. Sadick, is the famous “cocoa butter stretch mark cure.”
The pregnancy skin care ingredient don’ts:
Let’s cut right to the chase…
The definitive list of NO’s: Retinol, hydroquinone, avobenzone, oxybenzone, parabens, ammonia, phthalates, dihydroxyacetone, and tazarotene.
(Helpful hint: some of these ingredients come in other forms and other names, but if the long ingredient name on the bottle contains one of the names, it’s probably a variant so either ask your derm or avoid that product to be on the safe side.)
Most of the reasoning behind ingredients to stay away from is the lack of FDA testing on women who are pregnant with these particular ingredients. Dr. Bucay explains “As a rule, pregnant women should avoid vitamin A acid products, including retinol, retinoic acid (Retin A), tazarotene (Tazorac), adapalene (Differin), which are used for acne and/or signs of sun damage. Another compound to avoid is salicylic acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid used to treat acne and brown spots.” Chiu says, “It is likely that most of these products don’t have enough absorption to be problematic, but because the potential of risk versus the cosmetic benefits, it is best to avoid them during pregnancy.”
Retinoids, as most people know, are kind of a lifesaver in an anti-aging regimen. So what’s a mom-to-be to do? The good news is there are tons of other options out there that can be just as effective, and totally safe. In addition to vitamin C being a great component in any anti-aging routine, ingredients like citric acid and white truffle can keep your skin plump and wrinkle-free.
“Hydroquinone is another common ingredient in skin care, particularly in skin brightening/lightening creams, but it may be associated with birth defects so it’s best avoid it,” says Sadick. “Safe alternatives to treat pigmentation issues during pregnancy are alpha hydroxyl acids, found in peels or cream.”
Sadick adds: “Other ingredients to avoid are parabens, ammonia, phthalates, dihydroxyacetone—these are found in several products from hair dyes to nail polishes and self-tanners. Although there is no evidence they cause harm to the fetus or baby, some animal studies have shown there is potential for teratogenicity, so best be safe than sorry.”
The ingredient dos:
As mentioned before, a big misconception about pregnancy and skin care is that you are limited from all the good stuff for nine months. But there’s actually a ton of stuff out there that is not only safe, but really good for skin when your body is going through pregnancy.
But don’t fret if you don’t naturally have the famous pregnancy glow. “Another myth is regarding the ‘pregnancy glow,’” says Sadick. “While some women find their skin is radiant, others experience dryness and breakouts that needs to be addressed with appropriate skin care.” And that’s totally fine and normal, and doesn’t mean you can’t find you pregnancy glow through great skin care.
Bottom line:
Being proactive about safety when your pregnant is super important. Carefully checking labels and consulting with your derm are great ways to ensure you get the best skin care, with the least risk. However there are a lot of myths out there, so be sure to do your homework and know that being pregnant doesn’t mean giving up great skin care!
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