Hormone changes can cause a variety of skin reactions during pregnancy – as if you didn’t have enough to worry about already. On top of that, some products and ingredients are off-limits, and it isn’t always clear what you can use and what you can’t use to wash your face during pregnancy.
What to Avoid
While trying to conduct my own research, I found a website that discouraged the use of products with SALICYLIC ACID, an ingredient commonly used in blemish fighting face washes to reduce the appearance of acne (also called beta hydroxy acid). Thinking I was being a cautious mommy, I decided to switch to a product that had BENZOYL PEROXIDE, a different acne-fighting ingredient. According to this particular website, there was not any proof that benzoyl peroxide could harm a fetus. Other websites said that the jury was still out.
Face wash containing salicyclic acid should be avoided by pregnant women
However, when I asked my ob/gyn about it at my next prenatal appointment, she strongly advised me to stop using products with the ingredient benzoyl peroxide as well. And as any good formerly-hormonal teenager knows, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are the top two most commonly used ingredients in most acne fighting face washes. So what’s the deal with these ingredients and how serious is it?
The acid in salicylic acid, when taken orally, can cause birth defects similar to effect of someone taking aspirin early in their pregnancy (another no-no). If the acid used topically is allowed to absorb into the skin, it can reach the blood stream and get to the fetus. Because these products are designed to penetrate deep into the skin to remove oil, the likelihood of it being absorbed into the blood stream is higher.
Many anti-aging products like this advertise the use of retinols, but should not be used by pregnant women
If you have been using these products topically, do not panic, further research is still needed to prove that these are absolutely off limits, and some Web sites, including www.babycenter.com, say that using small amounts (with less than 2% salicylic acid) once a day probably won’t cause any problems. The bottom line is that it is probably best for your baby and your peace of mind to avoid these products. Just keep reminding yourself that it’s only nine months.
Another ingredient you want to avoid is RETINOID. This substance comes with different names (retinol, retin-A, retinoic acid, retinyl) as has a variety of uses and therefore it is in a lot of different products. Many anti-aging face lotions include retinol due to its wrinkle-reducing qualities, while a lot of acne products, both oral and topical, include retinol for it’s acne fighting properties.
If you are taking anything with retinol orally, discontinue use immediately as it can cause birth defects in the fetus. Meanwhile, if you are using anything with this ingredient topically, it is best to play it safe and stop until you’re no longer pregnant.
A Safe Alternative?
Cetaphil is a no-frills cleanser gentle enough for pregnant women
So what is a pregnant woman to do when that “glow” is glowing a little bit too much?
At this point I already had three full containers of face wash under my sink that I could no longer use, and although I have been blessed with pretty good skin, my t-zone could have used some freshening up. So I did what any frustrated soon-to-be-mommy out of ideas would do and I posted my dilemma online and asked every mother I knew what they suggested. This is what they said:
- Use a scrub with gentle ingredients for that super clean feeling. St. Ives Apricot Scrubs works, but do not use the one that says “blemish fighting” or “blackhead fighting” because they contain salicylic acid. Use the regular “invigorating” scrub to remove dead skin cells.
- Try a gentle regular face wash to remove make-up. I used Olay Foaming Face Wash for sensitive skin. Cetaphil is another brand that uses only gentle ingredients.
- Use a cotton ball with plain isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) on your t-zone as a toner, instead of the more expensive toners out there with harsher chemical ingredients.
- Finish with a gentle lotion or sunscreen if necessary. Sunscreen is deemed safe and is recommended for pregnant women whose skin may be more sensitive due to hormone fluctuation.
Rubbing alcohol can be a safe alternative to toners but should not be used if you have dry skin
