Pregnancy Beauty: What Products To Avoid

The much-coveted pregnancy glow doesn't always come effortlessly, and mostly it has got a lot to do with what we are putting on our bodies. Pregnant women face hormonal imbalance, leading to dryness, skin darkening spots, breakouts, and even hair loss.

Practicing caution in our skincare and beauty regimen is never a bad idea, and multiply it a hundred times when you're expecting. Just like you spare time to read the label of the medicines you're taking during pregnancy and lactation, extending the same step for the products you use can save you a lot of trouble.

According to skincare experts, future mothers should consider making changes to their daily beauty routine and resort to products that contain no harmful chemicals. Here are some of the most common ingredients that are deemed harmful and should be avoided by expecting mothers.

Retinoids

Retinol and retinoids are vitamin A derivatives and are commonly found in skincare products like hydrating serums and even anti-aging formulations. The most effective uses of these products include combating acne and breakouts, exfoliating the skin, and stimulating collagen production.

Many moms-to-be can easily pick up a retinol product in hopes to soothe their acne-prone skin. However, some studies suggest that while retinoids don't get fully absorbed into the skin, they can lead to congenital disabilities.

High Concentrations of Salicylic Acid

We have come to love this hero ingredient for its stellar performance as an acne fighter, dirt remover, and skin clarifying agent. But pregnant women should avoid taking high doses of this acid ingredient in medications, serums, and skincare masks.

Fragrance

We all love a subtle fragrance in our skin, glowing serums, and hydrating lip balms, but think twice before using them if you're expecting. It's best to look for fragrance-free products, and you can likely figure that out by reading the label.

"Fragrances are usually made up of other harmful chemicals, like parabens, benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and more that are linked to cancer and nervous system issues. Short-term, they can cause irritation and redness in the applied area. Look for these terms to clue you in that a product contains a fragrance: parfum, perfume, linalool, limonene, eugenol, citronellol, geraniol, or cinnamal."

shared Dendy Engelman, MD, a certified Dermatologic Surgeon.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Nearly all of the hazardous ingredients for pregnant women focus on clearing our acne and dark spots, and benzoyl peroxide happen to be one of them. Over-the-counter products are likely to contain low and high doses of benzoyl peroxide, and some of them can pose a risk to the fetus' growth.

Chemical Sunscreens

There are two common types of sunscreens, chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens are frequently preferred for being effective protectants against UV rays, but they contain oxybenzone which can cause a severe threat to expecting mothers and the fetus.

Oxybenzone has the power to disrupt endocrine and hormonal balance, leading to permanent damage in the mother and baby. It is best to switch to a physical sunscreen that can offer the same protection without harmful consequences for both the expecting mother and her little one.