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When it comes to pregnancy and breastfeeding, you might need to change up your skincare routine.

Certain ingredients can cause birth defects, but data on some ingredients or treatments is insufficient, so it is better to also avoid them.

The good news is there are also many products that continue to be safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding plus they can even be helpful dealing with the hormonal changes and different skin developments women can experience during this time.

This guide can be a helpful reference for you.

Skincare Ingredients To Avoid During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

This is research I followed during both my pregnancies. It was information I learned from different classes, my doctor, and personal research. I have medical studies linked throughout, but again, please double check with your doctor about any skincare ingredient concerns!

What Causes Skin Changes During Pregnancy?

Many times, women will experience skin changes during pregnancy. This can be due to hormones, but healthcare professionals still aren’t sure what else causes the skin to vary throughout the months you are expecting. 

Common developments to the skin during pregnancy can include dark spots, melasma, acne, and even extra dry skin. 

What Causes Skin Changes During Breastfeeding?

There are also hormonal fluctuations that occur during breastfeeding. You might experience the same skin issues during breastfeeding you did during pregnancy, or there might be an increase in skin dryness or hormonal acne. Low levels of estrogen during the postpartum and lactating period impact the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin in the body.

Basic Skincare Ingredient Guide For Pregnancy

Skincare ingredients can fall into three categories. There are ingredients you should always avoid regardless of dosage, ingredients to be cautious about depending on dosage, and ingredients that are always safe to use during pregnancy. ALWAYS check with your OBGYN and/or dermatologist about the skincare you are using during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They have medical databases to search products for you to see if there is additional data.

Skincare Ingredients To ALWAYS Avoid

Regardless of dosage, the ingredients in this section should always be avoided.

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is an ingredient found in many skin brightening products. Since pregnant women can experience dark spots and melasma, it is important to look out for this ingredient. Studies show that 35%-45.3% is systemically absorbed into skin. 

Certain Essential Oils

Essential oils can be tricky. Although they are natural, some of them can cause issues with hormones during pregnancy or cause skin irritations. Many skincare products contain essential oils, so you can check this medical resource to see which ones are best to avoid during pregnancy.

Chemical Sunscreens

A study showed oxybenzone, a common ingredient in sunscreens, is a known endocrine-disrupting chemical. This can be especially bad during pregnancy and lactation. Other chemical sunscreens to avoid are octocrylene and octinoxate. You can stick to mineral sunscreen if you need to have sun protection during pregnancy or breastfeeding. 

Phthalates

Phthalates are something you want to avoid in general, but especially during pregnancy. This is another known endocrine disrupting substance which can be harmful to fetal development.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is not used very much anymore as a preservative, but it can still show up in products. Always be on the lookout for this in your skincare. It can disrupt hormones and cause premature birth.

Skincare Ingredients To Avoid Due To Dosage

Many ingredients are tricky due to the dosage requirements for safety.

Retinols and Retinoids

Retinols and retinoids are vitamin A derivatives found in many skincare products. While Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, too much Vitamin A can cause birth defects. The WHO recommends a maximum oral dosage of Retinol/Vitamin A during pregnancy of 10,000 IU (International Units). The FDA recommends a maximum daily dosage is 8,000 IU.

Always avoid pure topical retinols and retinoids during pregnancy. You might have a skincare product with Retinyl Palmitate listed somewhere on the label. With it not being the first ingredient, this means it has a very small dosage amount. Check with your OBGYN about this.

Salicylic Acid

This acid is a common ingredient in a variety of acne treatments. Studies have shown that low levels of salicylic acid can be absorbed through the skin, especially damaged skin. For this reason, high doses of salicylic acid should be avoided during pregnancy. The studies conducted on salicylic acid were high doses in salicylic acid peels on large areas. This does not apply to non-prescription skincare products using salicylic acid in low doses. Check with your OBGYN or dermatologist on a product with salicylic acid in it.

Glycolic Acid

In small amounts, typically the amount found in skincare products, glycolic acid is safe during pregnancy. Many acne treatments contain glycolic acid as an active ingredient. Adverse effects have been shown on high doses of glycolic acid, but these were higher doses than you typically find in skincare products.

Benzoyl Peroxide

This is another ingredient often found in acne treatments. While it can be safe to use in small doses, higher doses can cause concern. You should speak to your doctor about this ingredient before use.

Skincare Ingredients to Avoid During Breastfeeding

When it comes to topical ingredients, you can avoid the same ones during breastfeeding that you do during pregnancy. Information you get from your doctor will specify diet restrictions during pregnancy or breastfeeding, but they might not give you anything on skincare. Many studies show the chemicals you avoid during pregnancy can also apply to breastfeeding.

What Skincare Products Are Safe To Treat Skin During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

While there are many ingredients to avoid or use with caution, the good news is there are many skincare ingredients still safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Even if you are dealing with new skin concerns like melasma, dark spots, acne or dry skin you haven’t experienced prior to pregnancy, you can still treat them with safe ingredients. 

Below are some of the best and most common safe ingredients to treat skin concerns during pregnancy and breastfeeding. These substances are also great to take care of your skin at any stage of your life.

Hyaluronic Acid

This ingredient is fantastic for skin, but also during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are dealing with unusually dry skin, hyaluronic acid is the perfect ingredient to use.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

Another safe ingredient to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is vitamin C. Since many experience dark spots and uneven skin tone during pregnancy, topical vitamin C makes a great option. I personally used Good Science Beauty’s Skin Brightening cream during pregnancy.

Glutathione

Hyperpigmentation and melasma are common skin issues women can experience during pregnancy. Many of the ingredients found in these products aren’t considered safe (like the hydroquinone listed above), but glutathione is a safe choice! It is also very effective at treating pigments and dark spots. This is another active ingredient in Good Science Beauty’s Skin Brightening Cream.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a popular skincare ingredient for numerous issues including acne, softening fine lines, shrinking pores, and treating inflammation. It also makes a good choice for pregnant and breastfeeding women. 

I also loved using Good Science Beauty’s Skin Firming Cream during pregnancy which really helped my skin texture and elasticity.

Always Check With Your Doctor

If you are unsure about a certain skincare product or ingredient to use during pregnancy, always check with your OBGYN. If you see a dermatologist for specific skincare issues, you can also check with them. Your medical professional can look at anything you have to see if it is safe to use. Most things are not absorbed very deep into the skin, so aside from the well-known ingredients to avoid, many products are still safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Your doctor will know for sure if you have questions. You can also use EWG’s database as an additional reference to check on ingredients.

This article should be a beneficial resource and help keep your skin healthy during the hormonal changes of pregnancy and breastfeeding. I am not a medical professional, but this is my personal research. All of this information is found online, in medical databases, and available with your doctor. Check with your doctor before starting any skincare during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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