What Skincare to Avoid While Pregnant – While pregnancy is a beautiful and exciting time, it can also bring unexpected skin changes like acne, dark spots (melasma), or dryness. It can also worsen skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis.
That’s why skincare is still important during pregnancy to support your skin through hormonal changes. However, you can’t forget to be cautious. Some skincare ingredients can be absorbed into the bloodstream and may pose potential risks to your developing baby.
While many products are perfectly safe, a few common ingredients, like retinoids and oxybenzone found in chemical sunscreens, are best avoided for the safety of your baby. To help you navigate your pregnancy skincare routine safely, here are some of the most common skincare ingredients to avoid while pregnant.
Skincare Ingredients To Avoid During Pregnancy
Before we jump into the list, it’s important to note that due to ethical reasons, there isn’t much evidence on whether certain ingredients are actually harmful during pregnancy. However, some studies on animals have shown serious effects related to certain skincare ingredients.
It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your little one. Here are some skincare ingredients that are best avoided while pregnant.
1. Retinoids
While retinoids are great for anti-aging, they can be harmful when used during pregnancy. The kind of retinoids you find in stores are generally lower in doses, while prescription retinoids like tretinoin and isotretinoin are much higher in dose.
The amount of retinoids absorbed by topical products (like from skincare) is likely low, but in higher doses, retinoids have been linked to birth defects. Therefore, retinoids should generally be avoided during pregnancy.
2. Salicylic Acid
If you’re struggling with acne during pregnancy, salicylic acid will most likely help with that. While topical use of salicylic acid is safe during pregnancy, you should still do it with caution. Cleansers, toners, and other products with salicylic acid are okay to use as long as they’re not stronger than 2%.
High dose salicylic acid from peels or oral prescription medications are not safe during pregnancy. Studies have shown that taking oral salicylic acid during late pregnancy can increase the risk for intracranial bleeding.
3. Chemical Sunscreens
Oxybenzone is a common ingredient in chemical sunscreens, but it may not be safe during pregnancy. It can affect hormones and has been linked to problems with fetus development in animal studies. It might also harm the environment. Because of this, it’s better to avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone while you’re pregnant.
4. Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is widely used to lighten the skin and reduce skin pigmentation from melasma or chloasma, both of which can occur during pregnancy.
There isn’t a lot of research that shows the effects of hydroquinone during pregnancy. However, it’s better to be cautious when using hydroquinone during pregnancy because when compared to other skincare ingredients, a higher percentage (35% to 45%) of hydroquinone gets absorbed into the body. Because the effects are still quite unclear, it’s better to limit exposure to hydroquinone during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is a time to treat your body and skin with extra care. Avoid retinoids, high‑strength acids, chemicals, and hormone disruptors. Stick to gentle, nourishing products that are proven to be pregnancy safe. When in doubt, always do a patch test and consult your healthcare provider. With mindful choices, you can enjoy healthy, glowing skin throughout this special journey.
