Skin Care When Pregnant: Which Is Possible, Which Is Prohibited?

Medical Video: Skin care products during pregnancy: Q&A| Dr Dray 👶

Pregnant women must always be careful in choosing food and drinks, because what the mother consumes will be consumed by the baby as well. However, sometimes we are not careful in choosing skin and beauty care products that are used everyday. The products we apply on the surface of the skin can be absorbed into the skin and spread throughout the body, including the fetus, through blood vessels.

The following are skin care products that need to be considered safe or not used during pregnancy.

Products that must be avoided while pregnant

1. Retinoids

Retinoids are found in many anti aging skin care products. Retinoid, which is a type of vitamin A, works by accelerating the regeneration of the skin and slowing down the damage of collagen. Retinoids can help reduce wrinkles and brighten skin tone. Retinoids are prohibited from being used during pregnancy because consumption of high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy can harm the fetus. Retinoids in the form of oral drugs such as isotretinoin have been shown to cause fetal disability.

2. Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is found in many skin care products such as cleansers, toners, and acne medications. Salicylic acid is able to enter the skin pores, remove dead skin cells, and reduce inflammation in the skin. Studies show that the use of high-dose salicylic acid in oral form (drinking) causes birth defects and various complications of pregnancy.

Although there is no sufficient data about the effects of using topical salicylic acid (topical), for safety, pregnant women are still advised to avoid using salicylic acid products. Care peeling (exfoliation) of the face / body with salicylic acid in pregnant women should also be avoided.

Keep in mind, BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) is one of the salicylic acid groups that also should not be used by pregnant women. BHA is often found in exfoliating products. While the AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) is a group of Glycolic Acid / Lactic Acid, not a group of Salicylic Acid, so AHA is safe to use when pregnant.

3. Certain acne medications

During pregnancy there are hormonal changes in the body, one of which is an increase in androgen hormones which can trigger acne. Pregnant women should not use acne medications that contain retinoid / salicylic acid. In pregnant patients, the doctor will give an acne medicine in the form of benzoyl peroxide ointment, if necessary added with antibiotic ointment. Antibiotic ointment that is safe to use for pregnant women is ointment of cephalosporin, erythromycin, or azytromycin antibiotics. Antibiotic ointment should only be used for a short time to avoid bacterial resistance. Avoid using tetracycline antibiotics because they can cause fetal disability.

Products that may be used during pregnancy

1. Sunscreen

Avoiding UV light by reducing outdoor activities between 12.00-16.00 or wearing a hat / umbrella while traveling during the day, pregnant women still need to use sunscreen. Especially during pregnancy, the skin becomes more sensitive than usual. There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and non-chemical. Both are safe to use while pregnant. The content of chemical sunscreens absorbs into the skin, while non-chemical sunscreens only provide a protective layer of UV light in the outer layer of the skin / does not absorb into the skin. Examples of non-chemical types of sunscreen are zinc oxide, titanium dioxide.

2. Makeup

When pregnant, the choice of makeup products to be used must also be considered carefully. Avoid makeup products that contain retinoids or salicylic acid. The safest makeup to use during pregnancy is mineral makeup, because it does not penetrate the skin and rarely irritates.

3. Nail polish

Data from the study concluded that there was no association between the use of phthalates (the content commonly found in nail polish) and health problems in humans. But animal studies show a link between phthalates and male sexual development disorders, so caution is needed in their use. To be safer, pregnant women should use nail polish products that do not contain phthalates, or use nail polish in a well-ventilated room so that phthalates in nail polish are not inhaled.