Being pregnant is no reason to stop feeling beautiful. However, many common beauty treatments are not approved for use during pregnancy and must be replaced with alternative beauty regimens until the baby is born.
Hairspray, gel, and mousse: Some hair care products contain an ingredient called phthalates. This chemical has been linked to birth defects in animal studies and some human studies. The FDA does not recognize that this ingredient is unsafe during pregnancy due to a lack of conclusive evidence, but it is worth changing hair care products during pregnancy.
Safe Sun Protection – UV rays are touted as one of the leading causes of premature aging and skin cancer. Pregnant women may think they are protecting their skin with sunscreen and SPF face and body lotion. They could be wrong. Oxybenzone, a common ingredient in skin care products, may be linked to low birth weight in girls and cell damage.
Soap and shampoo: Two of the common ingredients in soap and shampoo are sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. The names may seem similar, but the effects on the body could not be different. Sodium laurel sulfate is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, although skin irritation has been a problem for some pregnant women. Sodium laureth sulfate, on the other hand, can carry 1,4-dioxane with it. 1,4-Dioxane is a known carcinogen.
Skin lotion and oil: The first ingredient in many skin lotions is water. While this is a safe ingredient, the high concentrations of water often used as a filler require chemical antibacterial agents to prevent bacterial growth in the product. If your lotion ingredients start with water and then move on to ingredients with chemical names and syllable tones, the lotion is probably not safe during pregnancy.
Acne Treatments: Accutane and Retinoic Acid: Fighting adult acne may include the use of Accutane or other retinoic acid-based skin treatments. While effective in combating skin breakouts, these products are considered category X for pregnant women. Under no circumstances should Accutane or retinoic acid be used during pregnancy.
Retinoids: Accutane is a retinoid used to treat severe acne, but other retinoid-containing medications are used to treat psoriasis and certain forms of blood cancer. The March of Dimes offers the iPledge program where women of childbearing age can pledge not to get pregnant while taking these risky drugs.
Skin whitening: Skin whitening creams contain hydroquinone. This ingredient is listed as a category C pregnancy hazard. This means that animals have had fetal side effects associated with the consumption or use of hydroquinone. Although no human studies have shown birth defects in human fetuses, women should err on the side of caution when choosing skin care products during pregnancy.
There are healthy alternative beauty treatments approved for use during pregnancy. When in doubt about a beauty product, contact your obstetrician or take the product to your next prenatal check-up. Many skin care products contain toxic and dangerous ingredients that can affect fetal health for life.