January 21, 2020
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be wondering what products, ingredients, and treatments are safe for you to use and partake in. Keep reading to learn just how many options are actually out there for you.
By: Kaitlyn, NP & Alison, LE
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Kaitlyn: When a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding, there is a huge hormonal shift that occurs in the body causing changes in the skin. What kind of changes do you typically notice with our patients?
Alison: We definitely see a lot of skin dryness, along with acne. Acne is probably the most common symptom we see here with pregnant women. It’s also important to remember that this does vary from trimester to trimester.
Kaitlyn: Definitely. Just to clarify, individuals may have acne just in their first trimester or all throughout their pregnancy.
Alison: Right- it can vary!
Kaitlyn: What kind of skincare ingredients or products should someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding avoid?
Alison: Salycylic acid is a common ingredient in acne treating cleansers and masks which should be avoided. Also, any type of Retinol or Retin A products.
Kaitlyn: What about fragrances and dyes?
Alison: Pregnant women should stay away from both fragrances and dyes as much as possible. The goal should be to keep your products as natural as possible. In fact, even if you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid fragrance and dyes.
Kaitlyn: Now what about sunscreen? We get questions all the time about sunscreen, so I know it’s an important topic for most. Reminder to apply it every single day!
Alison: If you’re pregnant and/or breastfeeding, you need to avoid chemical sunscreens and look for physical or mineral ones.
Kaitlyn: Physical and mineral sunscreens are the exact same thing. If you see a bottle of sunscreen that says the words “physical” or “mineral” on it, then it is something safe to use.
If you already have children, think of it in terms of what sunscreens you’d want to be using on them (physical and mineral) and do the same for yourself. If you don’t see the words “physical” or “mineral” on the packaging- stay away from it.
Check out or blog “Sunscreen: Chemical vs. Physical” to learn more!
Also, be sure to check out all of our favorite EltaMD sunscreen products.
So out of all the chemical-free sunscreens, which is your favorite?
Alison: UV Elements is definitely my favorite. I love it because it contains hyaluronic acid, which gives you some moisture, and it’s also oil-free!
Kaitlyn: And that’s from the EltaMD line- they have a ton of high-quality sunscreens and a lot of them actually are chemical-free. We definitely recommend checking them out or grabbing some the next time anyone’s in our MedSpa. They’re also safe for babies and children, which is a huge bonus.
Kaitlyn: Now, what kind of treatments do you think are good for pregnant or breastfeeding women to get? Which ones are safe?
Alison: I recommend HydraFacials as maintenance treatments throughout pregnancy. HydraFacials will help decongest the skin and make the skin glow.
Also, a dermaplane or truly any type of spa-like facial is going to be great for someone who is pregnant. One of our most popular treatment combinations is a dermaplane and HydraFacial!
Kaitlyn: Okay so obviously no chemical peels and no lasers?
Alison: Correct. When we’re talking skincare while pregnant, it’s best to avoid those kinds of treatments.
Kaitlyn: There really are no studies that show “lasers are bad for pregnant women”. To be honest there are just not many studies proving the safety of these treatments in pregnant women because the FDA would never allow it and most pregnant women are not going to voluntarily subject themselves to it.
Alison: Right– absolutely.
Kaitlyn: So it seems like there are still quite a few great options out there in terms of skincare while pregnant or breastfeeding, especially if you are experiencing any dryness or acne. Please don’t feel as though there’s nothing that you can do. If anything, treat yourself to a HydraFacial in our MedSpa! You deserve it.
If you’re feeling a little lost still or have any questions, schedule a free skincare consultation with us by calling at (513)-791-9474! We’ll sit down, go over these safe treatments with you and guide you in the right direction as far as products are concerned.
Self-care doesn’t have to end when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. In fact, we’re here to make sure it doesn’t!