Pregnancy causes a variety of physiological changes in women, one of which is an increase in androgen hormone. This may promote hair growth on different body areas and cause acne vulgaris to develop or worsen. Are skincare products and those used to treat the aforementioned skin conditions safe to use during pregnancy? It makes sense that women would want to look their best during this significant occasion. You can learn which skincare ingredients to avoid while pregnant from this post.
Which Skincare Products Are Safe During Pregnancy?
Throughout her life, a woman must deal with a variety of hormonal changes, the most significant of which is pregnancy. Pregnancy and skincare are related, just like anything else. When utilizing skin care products online, more caution is required. Pregnant women may experience rosacea, acne, hair loss, and a host of other issues. Antibacterial retinoids are frequently used in topical acne treatment. Furthermore, a lot of ladies utilize skincare products like glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide. However, a majority of people are ignorant about pregnancy-safe skincare products.
You can review the list to see what is safe to do and what not to do.Agents
Because cosmetics and over-the-counter skin care products are applied topically rather than taken inside, they typically contain less potentially dangerous components during pregnancy. Several acne treatments and cosmetics contain skin care components such as glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid. It is okay to use these skin care products while pregnant. Pregnant women shouldn’t use hydroquinone, an over-the-counter skincare chemical that bleaches skin since it absorbs through the skin more readily.
Topical Retinoids
When using this product, very little topical retinoid, such as tretinoin, is absorbed from the skin. On the other hand, topical tretinoin administration is linked to case reports of congenital impairments in clinical trials, which is consistent with development in an embryo (retinoid embryopathy). Since there is conflicting data on tretinoin, it is not recommended to be used while pregnant.
Minoxidil to Promote Hair Growth
Skin care products containing minoxidil for hair development are prescription-only; as such, they should not be used without a dermatologist’s consent.
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Antibacterial Topical Treatments
Topical treatments for acne can involve the use of erythromycin and clindamycin either by themselves or in conjunction with skin care products. Clinical trials looking at clindamycin administered orally or topically in pregnancy did not find a higher incidence of birth defects in women taking it during the first trimester. Similarly, there has been no evidence linking pregnant women who take erythromycin orally to harm to the fetus.
Hair Removal Cream And Bleaching Solutions
Hair removal creams usually contain an ingredient called thioglycolic acid. However, there is no specific data on its absorption because the concentration of this substance is low.
When addressing issues related to hair removal, various skin care products are available such as depilatory and hair bleaching creams.
Calcium, sodium, and potassium hydroxide are also found in depilatory creams and disassociate into potassium, calcium, sodium, and hydroxide ions. These ions are found in large quantities in the body, and the amount of these chemicals found in consumer products that would come in contact with the skin would be negligible; however, they might spread through the skin; the systemic absorption of these ions is minimal and therefore does not increase serum levels and would not be considered an issue for use during pregnancy. Hair bleaching creams contain low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, and substantial amounts are unlikely to be absorbed after applying topically. Therefore, using such skin care products during pregnancy is not expected to be a concern when used in moderation.
Sunscreens
Sunscreen lotions and creams are commonly used to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays and are toxic in animal studies. These products have very limited dermal and systemic absorption. Many pregnant women have used sunscreens to treat or prevent melasma, and adverse events have not been reported.
Tanning Products
Dihydroxyacetone is a colour additive present in self-tanning products for artificially tanning skin. These self-tanning products contain dihydroxyacetone in concentrations ranging from 1 to 15%, and when applied topically, systematic levels are minimal. Therefore, usage in pregnant women would not be of concern.
There has also been concern over the use of vitamin A in pregnancy. However, these concerns are related to the amounts of vitamin A taken orally in large doses. Vitamin A in cosmetic products is generally present in insignificant quantities and minimally absorbed through the skin. It is therefore acceptable to use over-the-counter skincare solutions containing vitamin A. Unbranded items, particularly if sourced from the internet, are not recommended as the basic components cannot be verified.
In summary
Skin care products, with the exception of hydroquinone and topical retinoids, are not anticipated to raise the risk of birth defects or other adverse effects. As a result, expectant mothers can achieve their goals without endangering the health of their unborn children. The greatest skincare products for pregnant women can also be found by speaking with a specialist.
