When you’re expecting, you may experience differences in your skin’s tone and texture due to hormonal changes. While you can still maintain a comprehensive skin care regimen, you’ll want to be mindful of the products you’re using to ensure they’re safe for your baby. Here’s a quick guide to prenatal care for your skin. 

Common Skin Concerns During Pregnancy

As with all aspects of prenatal care, skin care may look different for each woman during pregnancy. Some expecting mothers experience few to no skin changes; for others, variations such as dryness or acne are pronounced. It’s also possible to experience stretch marks as your body grows to accommodate your baby, as well as a darkening of the skin known as melasma. If you have any preexisting skin conditions, such as eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis, you may also notice a change in symptoms while you’re expecting.

What to Use & What to Skip

Fortunately, there are many skin products now available that are safe for pregnant mothers and their developing babies. Many gentle, fragrance-free products, such as cleansers and moisturizers, are considered safe. If you’re experiencing dryness, you may want to reach for a product with hyaluronic acid, as this pregnancy-safe product has powerful moisturizing properties. Vitamin C serums can help to address issues with skin discoloration. Of course, you’ll want to continue to use your sunscreen as well. Consider a physical barrier with ingredients like zinc oxide, since they sit on the skin instead of being absorbed into it. 

Some products are considered safe in limited amounts, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, to help fight acne. You’ll still want to discuss these products with your prenatal care team for specific safety recommendations, however. Many products will need to be avoided altogether because they’ve either been shown to present risks or haven’t been tested thoroughly for use during pregnancy. For example, vitamin A (retinoids, commonly found in anti-aging products) should be avoided, as should hydroquinone, an ingredient used to brighten skin. Be sure to read labels to watch for phthalates, formaldehyde and their derivatives, and added fragrances or essential oils. Many of these ingredients are considered unsafe and should be avoided until you’re no longer pregnant or breastfeeding. 

For compassionate, quality prenatal care in the St. Peters and Bridgeton, MO, areas, turn to Advanced OB-GYN Services. Board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Joseph Hazan has more than three decades of experience and has delivered more than 6,000 babies throughout his career. Explore the practice’s full range of services online, or schedule an appointment by calling (636) 928-1800.