11 Top skincare ingredients to avoid in pregnancy

Did you find out you are pregnant? Congratulations!!! You are in for the most beautiful experience of your life! Even if this is your 1st or 10th child, I am pretty sure that at this point, you have already heard many do’s and don’ts of pregnancy. Some don’ts can be pretty obvious, but some, such as cosmetics, might not be.

Why are some skincare ingredients not suitable for expecting mothers?

There are two good reasons why some skincare products are not good. The first reason is due to ethical reasons; pregnant women do not participate in clinical trials. The second is because cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA premarket approval. Therefore, if we do not have evidence-based facts that a particular component of the cosmetic product may or may not affect the fetus, the best recommendation is that you do not use it.

11 Top skincare ingredients to avoid in pregnancy

Chemical sunscreens

Sunscreen is the best way to help prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging, but it is crucial to pay extra attention to which type of sunscreen to use during pregnancy. Sunscreen containing avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, Oxybenzone, oxtinoxate, and menthyl anthranilate is known to cause a rare congenital disability. Choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide since they are known to be safer choices.

Retinoids

Retinol can affect the developing embryo and fetus, causing possible congenital disabilities, miscarriage, and premature delivery. Any expecting mother should stop using products containing vitamin A, tretinoin, isotretinoin, retinol, retinal, retinaldehyde, and retinyl palmitate.

Salicylic acid

This acid can treat acne, skin inflammation, and redness which can all appear during pregnancy. Salicylic acid is one of those topical products that have no clinical trial done on pregnant women. Still, studies have shown that the absorption rate through the skin is minimal; for that reason, some doctors may allow the use but will advise no more than 2% strength on products such as toners and washes. The best practice would be to seek guidance from your skin care provider.

Botulinum Toxin

Also known as Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin. Very popular right now due to its power to paralyze the muscles reducing the cosmetic appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. No physician would recommend or perform this on a pregnant patient because there are no studies testing the effect of injectables on a developing fetus.

Hydroquinone

During pregnancy, dark patches may appear on your skin, a phenomenon known as melasma or chloasma for those not pregnant. Hydroquinone is clinically and cosmetically used as a topical cream to treat melasma and chloasma. They work by lightening those dark patches of skin or reducing its pigmentation. However, it is better not to use it because the body can absorb a significant amount of it, and there are no studies that prove if it can or cannot cause harm to the fetus.

Phthalates

Used to make plastics more durable and also to help dissolve other materials. You can find phthalates in personal care and cosmetic products. Phthalates are also known to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In animal trials, exposure to these chemicals proved to cause reproductive problems and severe hormonal dysfunction.

Diethanolamine (DEA)

DEA is an ingredient found in many shampoos and other personal care products. During studies, Diethanolamine was applied to the skin of pregnant mice. The results showed interference with the normal brain development of the baby mice whose mothers had Diethanolamine applied to their coats. My suggestion would be to stay away from products containing DEA.

Oxybenzone

You can find Oxybenzone in chemical sunscreens and lip balms. This product is known to be an endocrine disruptor, meaning it affects the hormonal system. The use of Oxybenzone can leave permanent damage to the mother and baby. Be aware of products that contain avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxtinoxate, menthyl anthranilate, and octocrylene. They are all known to affect the hormonal system.

Alpha-Hydroxy acids (AHA)

Products containing alpha-hydroxy acids can increase the melasma that often develops during pregnancy. So avoid products that contain malic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, and tartaric acid.

Formaldehyde 

Formaldehyde is a preservative used to increase a product’s shelf life. However, today it is rare to find it in cosmetics since the U.S. government and World Health Organization classified it as a carcinogen and potent skin sensitizer and allergen. The issue we find is that other chemicals can release formaldehyde. Hair salon products might contain chemicals that release formaldehyde when the product is under heat, such as during flat-ironing or blow-drying. Therefore, choose not to use products that include: bronopol, DMDM ​​hydantoin, Diazolidinyl urea, hydroxymethyl glycinate, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternion-15, and 5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane.

Diazolidinyl Urea

Found in mascara, makeup, aftershave, and skincare products. Diazolidinyl prevents bacterial growth in its products, which sound lovely until you learn its effect as a formaldehyde releaser which is a known carcinogen.

Refereces: Bozzo, P., Chua-Gocheco, A., & Einarson, A. (2011). Safety of skincare products during pregnancy. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 57(6), 665–667.