The Do’s And Don’ts Of Skin Care During Pregnancy

Your entire world changes the moment you find out you are expecting. That could include your skin-care products as well. During pregnancy, a lady can appear stunning. Well, some women, to be precise.

While pregnancy might make some women appear stunning, for others, the extra hormonal activity can have the opposite effect, resulting in a variety of pregnant skin disorders. Acne is by far the most common skin ailment that affects pregnant women, but there is also a range of lumps, rashes, and discolorations that occur, the majority of which are caused by hormone activity.

While it is common knowledge that you will have to give up your favorite wine (sorry), having to give up your favorite skin care products may come as a surprise. But there is a reason everyone’s eyes are on your skin care products: certain substances can be absorbed into your body, and thus into your baby’s body. Furthermore, you may discover that some of the tried and truly proved beauty products you used to keep your skin glowing before pregnancy are unsafe to use once the baby arrives.

While most over-the-counter (OTC) body care products are entirely safe for your child, there are a few substances that could be dangerous. So, here is the good news: You can strike a balance between looking great while pregnant and safeguarding your kid.

This breakdown of what a healthy pregnancy skincare routine looks like, as well as what specific ingredients to avoid, is for you, whether you are looking for a safe product to reverse an unwelcome skin change brought on by pregnancy (yes, unfortunately, they do happen) or you are checking up on the safety of your current regimen.

Pregnant women should avoid the following skincare ingredients

Before we go into our list, we should note out that there is a scarcity of evidence-based data on the safety of specific products during pregnancy. Clinical experiments on pregnant women that could even begin to indicate that chemicals are dangerous are always unethical.

However, certain animal, anecdotal, or case-specific research has demonstrated that a few common skin-care chemicals have significant fetal consequences. Our recommendations are based on this.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires cosmetic goods to be safe based on their intended uses and labeling, but they do not require FDA approval to be sold. All of this raises serious concerns regarding which cosmetics are genuinely safe to use while pregnant. Most experts (and thus we) err on the side of caution on this basis.

What to Do If You Have Acne During Pregnancy

Do not be surprised if pregnancy brings up a bumper crop of zits, especially around your lips and chin, even if you have not seen one in years.

These are the most typical spots for acne during pregnancy, and if you do not treat it immediately away, it will last until your baby is born, and sometimes even after.

Although some over-the-counter medications can assist, dermatologists advise that you pick carefully. Any products containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinoids should be avoided. They are not safe to take throughout pregnancy.

Sulphur-based topical solutions, as well as those containing glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids, or any at-home microdermabrasion treatment, are all options. If they do not work, there are some topical prescription medicines that can help, according to dermatologists. These include erythromycin cream and azelaic acid, both of which are quite safe to take while pregnant.

Switching to a foundation for oily skin or utilizing loose powder mineral makeup can also help. Both are oil-blotting and will not aggravate acne-prone skin.

You may also apply a mattifying product under your makeup to absorb excess oil or dab your face with blotting sheets throughout the day to help remove excess oil.

Other Pigment Issues and the Pregnancy Mask

Melasma, also known as chloasma or pregnancy mask, is a common pregnancy skin issue that causes patches of dark, pigmented skin to form on the face.

A pregnancy mask is linked to hormones and UV exposure during pregnancy. Women with darker complexions and dark hair, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, are the most vulnerable. Other regions of darker skin can grow on or around your nipples and between your thighs, regardless of your complexion. Many women also have Linea nigra, or line of pregnancy, which is a darkening region of pigmentation running down the middle of the belly.

While there is no specific therapy for pregnant pigmentation issues, staying out of the sun and wearing sunscreen whenever you are outside can help to reduce the degree of discoloration you suffer.

While the safety of classic skin-lightening chemicals like hydroquinone during pregnancy is still up in the air, it is believed there are alternatives with a proven safety profile that you can try. Azelaic acid, which is helpful for pigment, and any topical vitamin C supplement, which helps decrease pigment naturally, are also options.

Belly Itches During Pregnancy

There is no denying that pregnancy may make your skin crawl, from unpleasant belly itches to potentially dangerous body rashes.

Hormones play a part in the condition, and skin stretching also contributes to itching.

PUPPP, or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, is one of the most frequent belly itch conditions. This hive-like reaction usually starts in the third trimester. It appears near the belly button at first, but it swiftly spreads to the thighs, breasts, and buttocks.

PUPPP is not hazardous, and it usually goes away soon after delivery, but it can be quite inconvenient. If you can not bear the itching any longer, prescription-strength steroid creams can assist. You can either soak a towel in warm milk and apply it to the skin or soak in a warm (not hot) bath with a handful of oats.

Dermatologists advise that if your rash is itchy and has fluid-filled blisters, you should see a doctor straight once. Pemphigoid gestationis, often known as herpesgestationis, is an immunological reaction. Even though it is unrelated to the herpes virus, it can raise the chance of premature birth and have a negative impact on your baby’s health, therefore it is critical to get treatment as soon as possible.

During pregnancy, many women experience a mild itchy all over their bodies. Calamine lotion or a decent moisturizer is frequently all that is required to soothe the skin. However, it is advised women notify their doctor if they experience any skin irritations. Itchy skin can be an indication of cholestasis, a pregnancy-related liver disorder that can raise the risk of early labor or cause some fetal distress.

Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

There are plenty of things to test, ranging from traditional cocoa butter to high-tech skin treatments that claim to prevent stretch marks.

However, most doctors now feel that the red, blue, purple, and brown stretch marks that divide your stomach like the Grand Canyon are primarily inherited and that most topical therapies will not prevent them from appearing.

While stretch marks cannot be avoided, dermatologists, believe that in many cases, a few laser treatments after the baby is born will cause your stretch marks to erase as rapidly as your recollection of labor pains.

Treating stretch marks while they are red, or purple can be performed with a pulse dye laser after the baby is delivered. Microdermabrasion, Retin A, Intense Pulsed Light, and filler injections have various degrees of success once they have become beige.

Wrinkle Fillers, Botox, and Pregnancy

Finally, if you are wondering if it is okay to have anti-aging wrinkle treatments like Botox or Restylane while pregnant, keep in mind that no testing has been done to confirm safety.

It is not recommended getting a wrinkle injection or a Botox shot while pregnant. However, many women, like myself, received wrinkle injections and then became pregnant within a few months, delivering perfect, healthy kids.

Cosmetics to avoid during pregnancy:

Retinoids

Vitamin A is an essential component for maintaining good skin, immunological, reproductive, and eye health. Your body transforms it to retinol when it is taken or absorbed through the skin.

Some anti-aging skin care products contain retinoids, a kind of retinol that has become a holy grail because of its ability to reverse acne and diminish fine lines. Retinoids renew skin by assisting surface-level skin cells in exfoliating more quickly and increasing collagen formation.

Prescription drugs, such as Retin-A (tretinoin) and Accutane (isotretinoin), contain far larger doses of retinoids than over-the-counter products. Although the quantity of retinoids absorbed by topical treatments is insignificant, greater doses have been associated with birth abnormalities. As a result, all retinoids are contraindicated during pregnancy.

Salicylic acid in high doses

Salicylic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties comparable to aspirin, is a frequent component used to treat acne. However, a 2013 study found that high-dose salicylic acid products, like peels and oral medicines, should be avoided during pregnancy.

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is a prescription medication used to lighten or diminish skin pigmentation caused by melasma and chloasma, both of which can be exacerbated by pregnancy.

Hydroquinone has no demonstrated link to severe congenital abnormalities or negative effects.

Phthalates

Phthalates are hormone disruptive compounds that can be found in a variety of cosmetics and personal care items. Phthalate exposure has been related to major reproductive and hormone abnormalities in animals.

Formaldehyde

Because formaldehyde is a recognized carcinogen and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can increase the risk of infertility and miscarriage, it is rarely used as a preservative and disinfectant in cosmetic products anymore.

Sunscreens that contain chemicals

The most often used ultraviolet (UV) filter in sunscreens is oxybenzone and its variants. Although it has been shown to be beneficial for skin protection, oxybenzone’s possible negative health and environmental impacts are putting it in a negative light.

Because oxybenzone is a recognized endocrine disruptor, it is feared that using it during pregnancy will disrupt hormones and cause long-term harm to both mother and child.