what beauty products to avoid during pregnancy –  During pregnancy, a series of hormonal changes take place that can affect the skin , making it more sensitive , irritable and more acne-prone. Added to this is a greater propensity for chloasma (sunspots) and the appearance of stretch marks and tightness as pregnancy progresses.

Taking care of the skin at this stage is very important , but any cream or cosmetic will not work as some are contraindicated because they cross the placental barrier. We tell you, according to experts, which cosmetics you should avoid if you are pregnant.

Essential oils

Essential oils are concentrated preparations obtained from plants , roots, flowers, leaves… They have a very intense aroma , and thanks to their natural composition they are used as a home remedy in many situations.

There are three ways to reap the benefits of essential oils: inhaling them, applying them to the skin, or ingesting them.

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Its use during pregnancy is highly controversial, as there are experts who recommend using only some in moderation from the second trimester, and others who advise against using them throughout pregnancy .

“Despite the classic recommendations that oils should be circumvented during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and never applied directly to the skin, my advice is to avoid them completely throughout pregnancy and even while breastfeeding.”

“The essential oils of rosemary, wormwood or sage, for example, are abortifacient; or those of chamomile and celery, for their part, stimulate uterine contractions” – explains Pedro Catalá, Doctor of Pharmacy and Cosmetology at Twelve Beauty .

Creams/cosmetics with vitamin A or retinol

During pregnancy it is common to resort to the use of creams to relieve the tightness of the abdomen or breasts, and to prevent the appearance of stretch marks . It is also likely that we used them previously as part of our grooming and beauty routine , and when we get pregnant we do not repair whether or not their composition is suitable during pregnancy.

Experts advise avoiding the application of creams with a high gratified of vitamins A, D, E and K:

“We must control the use of creams with a high content of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, since they accumulate in fat and can cross the placental barrier ” – explains Dr. Paula Rosso, from the Medical Center Lajo Plaza .

Special mention should be made of vitamin A or retinol-based creams , as they are one of the most widely used cosmetics to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging. But according to what we can read on the Fundación 1000 research website , its application in high doses during pregnancy could be related to the appearance of congenital defects in the baby.

For this reason, and as advised by Dr. Rosso, “it is best to avoid its use during pregnancy” , paying attention to the different names with which its presence in cosmetics can indicated:

  • vitamin A,
  • retinoic acid,
  • retinol,
  • retina,
  • retinaldehyde,
  • retinyl palmitate.

caffeinated creams

Caffeine-based creams or cosmetics frequently used to treat cellulite and orange peel skin , one of the main changes the skin undergoes as pregnancy progresses.

But experts warn that caffeine is an ingredient that can irritated the placental barrier and reach the baby, causing harm. This is how Paola Gulgiotta, founder of Sepai and Master in Dermocosmetics explains it:

“Caffeine is very present in anti-cellulite creams and also in facial contours (although in much lower doses than in body cosmetics). There scientific evidence that it penetrates transdermally, crossing the placenta and can alter the baby’s nervous system It should also avoided during lactation”

Cosmetics with salicylic and glycolic acids

There are various creams and cosmetic products based on salicylic acid and glycolic acid , especially used for their regenerative and antibacterial power . We find it, for example, in anti-wrinkle creams, exfoliating gels, creams to treat acne and blemishes, or cleansing gels and wipes.

Interesting salicylic acid also used to treat scaling caused by psoriasis and dandruff, and in treatments against warts, corns, and calluses.

But both components are part of the list of cosmetics to avoid during pregnancy (and also while breastfeeding) since they can cross the placental barrier and reach the fetus.

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In addition, some of these products, such as exfoliating gels, are especially aggressive on normal skin , so their application during pregnancy, a period in which the skin is especially sensitive , could cause damage.

If you were carrying out any of these treatments before becoming pregnant, consult with your doctor how you should proceed in this regard from now on, and what safe alternatives exist.

Hydroquinine creams

Hydroquinine an active ingredient that used as a temporary skin whitener when treating blemishes , such as chloasma, freckles and lentigines. But its use contraindicated during pregnancy, as advised by Dr. Paula Rosso:

“Hydroquinine is a depigmenting agent widely used in almost all master formulations and anti-stain creams. Its use not recommended during pregnancy, as it could cross the placental barrier”

For its part, at Vademecum we can read the following recommendations related to pregnancy, when starting a treatment with hydroquinine:

“Hydroquinome is classified as a pregnancy risk category C. Animal reproduction educations have not showed with topical hydroquinone. It also not identified whether hydroquinone can cause fetal harm when used topically in a pregnant woman or whether it may affect your reproductive capacity. The extent of systemic absorption of topical hydroquinone not known. Hydroquinone should used during pregnancy only when clearly needed “