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Medical Video: Acne | Nucleus Health
During pregnancy, soaring hormone levels can bring a number of skin changes. One of the most common skin problems experienced by pregnant women is acne. But even though women can generally use various prescription drugs for acne, pregnant women need to be more careful to take acne medication while pregnant.
Is it safe to take acne medication while pregnant?
Most acne medications are not safe to use while pregnant, and can harm your baby. Pregnant women should as much as possible avoid use or take acne medication during pregnancy, especially some types of prescription acne products below:
Accutane
Accutane is a prescription drug that is swallowed by mouth to treat acne. The generic name of Accutane is isotretinoin. Accutane side effects, and other derivative products (such as Roaccutane) include causing learning disabilities, brain malformations, heart defects, nervous system defects, and ear and face deformities. Accutane is also associated with miscarriage and infant death after birth.
Oral tetracycline (doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline)
Tetracyclines are oral antibiotics to treat acne and respiratory infections. Taking tetracycline after four months of gestation can change the color of your teeth and inhibit baby's bone growth.
Topical retinoids (Retin-A, adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin)
Retinoids are prescription acne medications in the form of creams, gels or topical ointments that contain vitamin A. Retinoids in topical forms have not been shown to cause problems in pregnant women. However, because of the shape that the cream can last long on the skin, the possibility of absorption of harmful ingredients also increases. In contrast, oral retinoids have been found to cause birth defects in infants.
Hormone pills (flutamide, spironolactone)
The medical world has officially banned women from using or taking acne medication during pregnancy in the form of androgen hormone therapy, such as flutamide, spironolactone. Make sure these two ingredients are not listed in the composition of your medication. Hormone therapy drugs can cause birth defects in babies.
Non-prescription acne medication
Acne medications containing salicylic acid are not safe for use by pregnant women, because salicylic acid can cause birth defects. Doctors also advise pregnant women not to use products with alpha-hydroxy acid, because the residues of these chemicals can be absorbed into the mother's bloodstream and the effects on the fetus are still unknown.
If you want to take other non-prescription acne medications during pregnancy, be sure to discuss them first with your doctor. The only thing that seems safe for pregnant women is anti-acne creams and / or antibiotics that contain benzoyl peroxide.
