6 Skincare Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy
By Angela Ilagan | | mom's health, pregnancy skincare, Skincare for moms, skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy, what skincare ingredients pregnant should avoid
Skincare products probably won't be the first thing you might want to switch up right after getting pregnant, but keep in mind that there are hidden dangers to some of these beauty treatments.
Due to raging hormone levels and some other factors, pregnant women's skin becomes pretty sensitive. And as we all know, our skincare gets absorbed by our skin. So, what can pass through the mother's skin can also affect the baby.
In fact, there are skincare products such as lotions, facial wash, moisturizers, and especially cosmetic products that have shown negative effects on both mom and baby. Some of these could expose risk to babies' health as well as their growth and development.
So, it's important to know what skincare ingredients should be off-limits for pregnant moms. Here’s a quick rundown of skincare ingredients you should stay away from;
1. Retinol
Retinol is a widely known ingredient for skincare as it helps keep our pores clear. However, some experts suggest that retinol, or Retin-A, and retinyl palmitate should be avoided by pregnant women.
The use of retinoids or any synthetic vitamin A and Accutane, an acne medication ingredient can actually cause a variety of birth defects, baby's malformation, miscarriage, and even premature delivery.
2. Parabens
Parabens work as a preservative in our cosmetics as it helps protects our skincare ingredients from being infected by bacteria, molds, and even fungi.
Mind you, our skin easily absorbs parabens. Unfortunately, any skincare product which contains parabens can lead to harmful effects. It may result in multiple negative effects, this includes a baby's poor weight development, miscarriage, obesity, fertility, and even abnormal fetal growth.
3. Aluminum Chloride
This ingredient is commonly found in your antiperspirant products. Aluminum chloride has been widely used in the skin care and hygiene industry.
However, some experimental studies have shown the negative effects of aluminum chloride on pregnancy, especially at a high dose level.
Good thing, the aluminum chloride that the standard antiperspirant contains only has three to six percent which is a pretty safe amount.
4. Benzoyl Peroxide
Worried about acne breakout a few months after getting pregnant? This makes some women turn to this skincare ingredient as it is widely used to treat mild to moderate acne problems.
Some experts suggest that Benzoyl Peroxide is safe during pregnancy since only a little amount of these ingredients can be absorbed by our skin. Too much and large quantities can be very harmful especially when taken orally.
5. Salicylic Acid
Just like aluminum chloride and benzoyl peroxide, this ingredient isn't harmful when put on the skin in little amounts.
Taking it in oral form should be only advised by a health practitioner as it may impose a threat on you and your baby's health.
6. Hydroquinone
Tempted to try a topical treatment without consulting your doctor? Though it might be easy just to grab whatever you can take over-the-counter for topical treatment in which hydroquinone is the primary ingredient, still it's best to check with your doctor for any adverse effects it may lead to.
Moreover, be wary of some sunscreen and essential oils. As a rule of thumb, it's best to consult your doctor about the skincare products that you'll be using.
Some skin experts suggest using a natural over a chemical sunscreen for safety.
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