Should you neglect your beauty routine during pregnancy?

It’s not easy to give up your beloved skin care regimen, but we know you’ll do anything to protect your little one. Sometimes the confusion and not being sure what is safe or not cause us to just give it all up…But it definitely not needed to through away your beauty routine during pregnancy.

I am here to help you clear the fog and see what should you avoid and what can you keep doing to maintain your beauty glow during the beautiful time of growing a new baby, but you can find a balance between maintaining your mama-to-be glow and protecting your baby.

Skin changes during pregnancy

While some lucky ladies experience 9 months of pure complexion perfection, others experience at least one less favorable new or worsening skin issue at some point. The most common are:

  • dry skin
  • darkening skin (a condition called melasma or chloasma)
  • acne

People with preexisting skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea may also experience a change in their symptoms (for better or worse).

And because your body is “all in” when it comes to pregnancy, pesky skin changes can affect other places, too — think stretch marks, spider veins etc

Ingredients to avoid:

Certain ingredients can be absorbed into your body, and therefore, your baby’s body, too.

Retinoids

Vitamin A is a crucial nutrient that’s required for optimal skin, immune, reproductive, and eye health. Once consumed or absorbed through skin, your body converts it to retinol.

prescription medications — such as Retin-A  and Accutane,  contain much higher doses. The amount of retinoids absorbed by topical products is likely low, but birth defects have been linked in higher doses. As such, all retinoids are advised against during pregnancy.

High-dose salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is a common ingredient to treat acne due to its anti-inflammatory capabilities, similar to that of an aspirin.

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is a prescription product to lighten skin or reduce skin pigmentation that occurs from melasma and chloasma, which can be brought on by pregnancy.

There’s no proven link between severe congenital defects or side effects and hydroquinone. But because the body can absorb a significant amount of hydroquinone compared to other ingredients (25 to 35 percent according to this article), it’s best to limit exposure (if any at all) during pregnancy.

Phthalates

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many beauty and personal products. In animal studies, serious reproductive and hormone dysfunction has been linked to phthalate exposure.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is rarely used as a preservative and disinfectant in beauty products anymore because it’s a known carcinogen, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source, can increase the risk of infertility and miscarriage.

Chemical sunscreens

Oxybenzone and its derivatives are the most frequently used ultraviolet (UV) filter in sunscreens. It’s proven effective for skin protection, but the potentially adverse health and environmental effects of oxybenzone are bringing it into a more unfavorable light.

Because oxybenzone is a known endocrine-disrupting chemical, the concern for use in pregnancy is that it could disrupt hormones and cause permanent damage to mother and baby.

Safe option: Mineral sun protection that based on zinc oxide.

 

The safe way

Choose the natural skin care which is targeted to pregnancy, usually it will contain very gentle oils like chamomile and lavender, but the best is to advice a professional, and i am here happy to help as i am a pregnancy therapist specialist.

Treatments during pregnancy

Pregnancy massage is an amazing relaxing experience from your 15 week of pregnancy, when done by a specialist – discover it here

A tailored natural facial is safe, again after letting your beautician know (if you don’t show a beautiful belly already…)

You are very welcome to enjoy your personal beauty experience, to fully recharge, relax and glow!