Celebrity Dermatologist Shares Simple & Safe Skincare Products For Pregnancy – Exclusive
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When you become pregnant, you have to make many changes in your life. For example, you will most likely need to take a little break from your favorite glass of wine and delicious sushi, and if you were a fan of high-intensity workouts, you might have to switch to less strenuous activities.
The same goes for your skin, as you should switch over to pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients for the healthy development of the baby. Hormonal changes might give you a pregnancy glow or skin issues you never had to deal with before, like acne. "Pregnancy hormones, especially an increase in androgens, may also lead to the development or worsening of acne," New York City-based dermatologist Anna Karp told Romper. Since prescription acne medications and retinoids could potentially lead to fetal abnormalities, alternatives that can treat your skin issues without harming the baby would be preferable.
Some can experience dark patches on their skin as well. Morgan Rabach, a board-certified dermatologist, told Allure, "Melanin-stimulating hormones, which are the same type of hormone as estrogen, [can] increase and cause dark spots." The usual go-to treatment, hydroquinone, shouldn't be used during this time, either. That doesn't mean all hope is gone, however. Arizona-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal is here to tell you what skincare products you should use to keep your skin and your baby healthy during pregnancy. Previously, Dr. Lal gave us the pregnancy no-no list of ingredients, and now he's spilling the tea on the safest skincare products for pregnancy.
Dr. Karan Lal says these skincare ingredients are pregnancy-safe
Dr. Karan Lal is a specialist in pediatric and adult dermatology and the only board-certified pediatric and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist in the United States, per Affiliated Dermatology. His background and expertise make him the perfect go-to regarding pregnancy-safe skincare products. So, what ingredients are safe for use during this time?
Dr. Lal told The List, "Glycolic acid, azelaic acid, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, mineral sunscreens, and vitamin C are all safe to use during pregnancy." There has been debate regarding the use of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide while pregnant, but Dr. Lal told us there have been no studies on the use of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in pregnancy, though they are often deemed not safe by many during pregnancy and breastfeeding. "As dermatologists, however, we know the systemic absorption of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid at the concentrations prescribed is minimal and unlikely to cause risk to a developing baby. Benzoyl peroxide has not been shown to be found in the blood after use," he explained. Dr. Lal added that the same is true for low salicylic acid concentrations (2% or less), so check the label.
Also, The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) categorizes over-the-counter (OTC) topical skincare products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide to be safe to be used during pregnancy. Since everyone's skin is different, check with your physician to see if these ingredients are safe for you.
Dr. Karan Lal's favorite pregnancy-safe skincare products
Many things change in your life during pregnancy, including your skin. Therefore, switching your skincare products to ensure they're safe is critical. Finding the right skincare ingredients and products during pregnancy can be confusing, so we asked Dr. Karan Lal to give us his best recommendations to make it super easy for you.
Dr. Lal keeps it simple and sweet for the morning with only three products. He told The List, "In the AM, I love Glycolic Renewal Cleanser by SkinCeuticals." This gel cleanser has 8% glycolic acid to gently exfoliate and aloe to soothe and hydrate your skin. Next up is Vitamin C. "I prefer patients to use Vitamin C in the AM. I really love the Vitamin C serum by La Roche-Posay as it has salicylic acid in it as well (great for acne in pregnant patients)." Vitamin C can safely treat uneven skin tone and dark spots. The last step is sunscreen; his favorite is CeraVe hydrating sunscreen, which is available tinted or non-tinted.
For bedtime, he's a fan of Naturium azelaic acid or The Ordinary's Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension Brightening Cream. Even Dr. Michelle Park of Washington Square Dermatology told The Strategist, "It's my favorite topical acne treatment to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding," and added that it also helps with redness and dark spots. Finally, for extra hydration, Dr. Lal loves La Roche-Posay Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which also helps with fine lines.