Skin and Skincare During Pregnancy

While many expecting moms are used to hearing about that mythic pregnancy “glow,” most also discover they have their fair share of skin woes to face along the way.

Some of the most common pregnancy complexion concerns include:

• Acne – If you notice the appearance of more pimples during pregnancy, you can thank the lift in total-body circulation and oil production. Importantly, acne is one skin concern that requires some caution to treat during pregnancy, as certain zit-zapping ingredients and harsh chemicals may be hazardous for your baby (we’ll cover one major offender—retinol—below).
• Dark spots – Pregnancy dark spots may crop up on your face, as well as your breasts and thighs. Pigment changes can also show up as melasma (also called “pregnancy mask”), particularly around the cheeks, forehead, and nose. Any changes to your skin tone are likely a result of a natural boost in melanin, the pigment-causing compound, during pregnancy.

It’s important to steer clear of skin-lightening products like hydroquinone during this time, as your body more readily absorbs the bleaches they contain, and these bleaches could be passed on to your baby through your blood.

• Stretch marks – Approximately 9 in 10 women develop stretch marks during pregnancy, and these tend to linger after your baby is born. While there’s no evidence to show topical solutions can eliminate stretch marks completely, some providers advertise procedures like a chemical peel or Botox to remedy them. However, if you want to try any of these treatments, they should be saved for after your baby is born.
• Itchiness or discomfort – You may find your skin is especially thirsty during pregnancy, particularly if you’re pregnant during the winter or colder months. Itchiness is a common symptom of dry skin; while regular moisturizing can help, hydrating spa treatments can provide even deeper nourishment with the proper, pregnancy-safe products.

With so many changes to adjust to, it’s no wonder you’re pondering whether your skin could use some professional TLC! Fortunately, you can absolutely book a trip to the facial spa—just be sure to keep the following guidelines in mind for your baby’s safety.

Skincare Ingredients and Treatments to Avoid During Pregnancy

Before booking any spa facial treatment, it’s a good idea to let the business know about your pregnancy status. As an extra measure of caution, you might reach out to your doctor, dermatologist, or pregnancy care team to ask for a list of skin care products they don’t recommend. Then, run those products by your aesthetician before your appointment.

In a similar vein, it’s important to vet the current skincare products you have on rotation for potentially injurious ingredients. While certain “actives” (active ingredients) are often advertised boldly on product labels, other potent ones may be hiding in the lineup’s fine print.

For now, keep the following save-for-later ingredients in mind to help you audit your home stash and book a facial you can feel confident about.

Vitamin A Derivatives

Some of the most popular skincare ingredients today are vitamin A derivatives, as they can help combat acne as well as smooth the surface of the skin. Some names you might recognize are:

• Retinoids
• Retinol
• Retinal
• Retinoic acid
• Retin-A
• Tretinoin or isotretinoin

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends retiring all forms of topical or prescription vitamin A when you’re pregnant. These are considered teratogens that have been linked to fetal developmental abnormalities affecting the:

• Head and skull
• Face
• Heart
• Nerves and nervous system

The good news is that some retinoids can only be administered with a prescription from a healthcare provider. In any case, it’s best to inform your aesthetician that you’re pregnant, even if you’re still in early pregnancy, to ensure they don’t use milder forms of this ingredient at your session.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are common facial treatments that apply potent chemicals and acids to the skin. They’re designed to remove dead skin cells, encourage skin cell regeneration, and leave a smoother complexion behind.

Unfortunately, some products used in chemical peels—like high-potency salicylic acid or trichloroacetic acid (TCA)—could seep into the bloodstream and pose harm to babies in-utero. In some cases, chemical peels may even heighten your exposure to bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.

As such, most doctors caution pregnant moms against getting a chemical peel until after pregnancy.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a rigorous exfoliation treatment designed to have similar effects to chemical peels. The difference is these treatments apply physical abrasives, rather than chemical constituents, to encourage cell turnover and renewal.

Microdermabrasion is inadvisable during pregnancy for the same reason as chemical peels. Not only may it cause irritation to extra-sensitive, hormone-addled skin, but it may also put you at risk of infection. So, it’s best to steer clear of microdermabrasion until after your baby has arrived.

Microneedling

As a general rule, it’s best to stay away from any procedures that puncture the skin during pregnancy to reduce your vulnerability to infection. This includes the increasingly popular procedure of microneedling, which uses delicate needles to puncture and encourage collagen growth in the skin.

Similarly, cosmetic fillers are inadvisable during pregnancy—even if they only administer naturally-occurring substances such as hyaluronic acid (HA) or Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA). It’s also important to steer clear of these procedures postpartum to avoid complications during breastfeeding.

Practicing Safe Skincare During Pregnancy

Unfortunately, little conclusive data exists documenting the impact of common skin treatments on maternal and fetal health. From light therapy procedures to the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of chemical sunscreens, many common treatments and skincare products remain under-researched.

For this reason, many healthcare professionals and moms decide to treat procedures like these as something to look forward to after pregnancy. And fortunately, there are still loads of practices and spa treatments you can enjoy in those months you’re waiting for your baby to be born.

Oxygen Facials

Oxygen facials are a luxurious and pregnancy-safe treatment option. They use an infusion of oxygen to the face and neck to help the complexion look radiant and feel rejuvenated.

Oxygen facials are classified as a non-medical facial, which means they won’t typically include needles or harsh chemicals. While mild exfoliants are used, they’re unlikely to break the skin and shouldn’t expose you or your baby to infection.

Body Treatments

If you’re dealing with dry skin, there’s no reason your body shouldn’t enjoy its own version of a facial! While it’s best to stay away from treatments like seaweed wraps, which could cause heat stress to your baby, you can help yourself to alternatives, like body scrubs.

Body scrubs help encourage circulation and lymphatic drainage and coax dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Not only that, but your baby could enjoy a boost of oxygen and nutrients as your blood flow kicks into gear.

If you’re planning on booking a body treatment at the spa, just be sure to inform your aesthetician of your pregnancy status. While the use of potentially toxic chemicals is uncommon during a body treatment, they’ll want to opt for gentler scrub solutions to minimize irritation to your skin.

Facial Massage

Prenatal massage can be a dream for many expecting moms, offering everything from muscle and joint relief to lymph drainage. But facial massage can offer its own set of benefits, including

• Boosted circulation
• Sinus and congestion relief
• A glowier, fresher skin tone

Aestheticians often offer facial massage as a component of a facial, but you can also enjoy the benefits of facial massage at home. Systems like gua sha or facial acupressure can be an effective, low-cost way of treating your skin and relieving the daily stresses of expecting.

Boost Your Pregnancy Glow with SneakPeek

During pregnancy, it’s normal to want to take extra good care of yourself and your baby with some spa relaxation. But if you’re tempted to try procedures like microneedling, it’s worth exploring alternatives for now. Remember, practicing mindfulness around skincare during pregnancy can be a form of self-care (and baby-care) in its own right.

Another way you can treat yourself before your baby is born is by checking out SneakPeek’s Early Gender Blood Test. With this DNA-based test, you can learn your little one’s gender as early as 6 weeks into your pregnancy with over 99% clinically proven accuracy¹. Just take your sample in the comfort of your own home, send it to SneakPeek labs, and we’ll send you your triple-reviewed results the same day we get your sample.

SneakPeek offers total privacy protection, remains OBGYN’s #1 recommended at-home early gender test, and has the trust of 1 million new moms behind it. Find out more by checking out SneakPeek Test today.