Can beauty products affect my unborn child? How can I deal with cosmetic concerns during pregnancy? These are just a couple of questions frequently asked by pregnant women . Beauty products that are easily absorbed into the skin are most potentially harmful to the fetus or pregnant woman.It is important to draw attention to these potential risks by answering important questions on the topic:

Should I avoid using sun protection or a daily moisturizer during pregnancy?

Sun protection is perfectly safe as it does not contain any active ingredient that is absorbed through the skin, so there is no reason to avoid it during pregnancy, but quite the contrary.

Which active ingredients must be avoided during pregnancy?

All beauty products are safe to use as long as they do not contain the following ingredients or their derivatives: Vitamin A, Isotretinoin, Retinoic Acid, Retinoides, Retinaldehyde or Retinylpalmitate. Skin lightening ingredients such as Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid are also dangerous. Skin scrubs that contain Glycolic Acid are also to be avoided as the acid is easily absorbed through the skin and can affect the fetus.

I am in the first months of pregnancy, what are the best and safest products to prevent and treat stretch marks?

All products are safe as long as they do not contain the above mentioned ingredients, particularly vitamin A which is a common component in anti-stretchmark products, used to help produce collagen and elastin. The solution is to use products that contain natural moisturizers such as shea and cocoa butter as well as vitamins E and C in addition to collagen and elastin.

What are the best skin lightening treatments during pregnancy?

Products that do not contain the aforementioned ingredients, but contain vitamin C, Arbutin, licorice extract, vitamin B3 and soya extract can be used. Remember to also use sun protection to prevent skin irritation.

If I have oily skin, what should I do to prevent acne during pregnancy?

The main thing is to use a cleanser containing Salcylic Acid to smooth the skin’s surface and remove any dead skin cells. You should also use a skin cream that is rich in zinc extracts (Zinc Gluconate) which help regulate sebum secretion and prevent the growth of bacteria that cause acne. We will be answering more of your questions concerning beauty products and pregnancy in our next issue.