A lot of hormonal changes occur in your body when you are pregnant. While some are as harmless as food cravings, some of these changes can take their toll on your body, especially your skin. From blotchiness to acne, a lot of skin issues can occur during pregnancy. What makes it even worse is the fact that you have to be extra careful with the skin care and beauty products you use because your skin is oversensitive and more prone to get damaged during this time.
However, there are some products whose damage isn’t limited to the outside. In some cases, the ingredients found in these products can be diffused in the bloodstream, causing some degree of damage to your baby. Even if all is well during your pregnancy and you start to breastfeed your child after delivery, these ingredients will still be in your bloodstream and threaten your child. Therefore, you must consider making a switch to products that are specifically created for expecting moms-to-be.
Ingredients to Look Out for When Buying Skin Care Products
There are several ingredients found normally in skin care products that can bring more harm than good to a pregnant woman. Here are some of the ingredients you should watch out for.
1. Retinoids
A part of many skin care products, Retinoid is a powerful anti-aging agent that can be used for effective results. Oral retinoid, also known as isotretinoin, is also found in products used for the treatment of skin condition such as acne. However, the extremely high amount of vitamin A found in this ingredient can be harmful for your baby. With high levels of vitamin A in your blood stream, there is a good chance that your baby may suffer from several birth defects. Therefore, when buying skin care products, you should try to find the ones that don’t have retinoids in them.
2. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is added to a large number of skin care products because of its ability to treat skin disorders like acne as well as its exfoliating and pore-cleansing properties. However, using too much salicylic acid in oral form during pregnancy can lead to birth defects. While you can use a small amount of it in topical form, it is much better to stay away from products that contain it to ensure complete safety. Make sure that the products you use are free of this element, especially if you are going to have a body wrap or facial. You should also avoid alpha and beta hydroxyl acids as well due to similar reasons.
Switch to Organic Skin Care
Using completely organic and natural products is the only way to save yourself from a skin care disaster while ensuring the health of your child. In addition to these two, there are other chemical ingredients in skin care products that can harm the health of the baby. Even the safest of skin care products can have some kind of negative impact, giving you no choice but to give them up completely. Instead, you should switch to the use of organic products that are properly certified.
If you find it confusing to decide what is safe and what isn’t, you should consult your obstetrician. They can provide you with a detailed account of what is safe for you and may even recommend products that are safe for your use. You can also ask them which products are really organic so that you won’t be conned by the claims of mediocre, unhealthy product producers.
Other Skin Care Tips
To ensure that your skin care education is comprehensive, here are some important skin care tips:
- Use makeup products that are non-comedogenic to avoid breakouts and clogged pores.
- Make it a habit to use mild cleansers daily.
- Make sure that your skin is moisturized at all times and avoid taking hot baths and showers.
- Massage your belly with cocoa butter if it itches or gets dry.
- Get special ointments and creams to moisturize your nipples instead of using regular moisturizers.
- Use tinted moisturizer and hydrating foundations.
- Make sure you get sufficient sleep every day.
With these tips, you can take care of your skin better during pregnancy.
So find the right balance between your skin care and baby care.
