Safe skin care procedures during pregnancy

Most over-the-counter body care (OTC) products are quite safe, but there are some ingredients that can still harm the fetus. So mothers to have a beautiful skin during pregnancy as well as to have a healthy pregnancy. Mothers should know how to take care of their skin and how to choose cosmetics for a safe pregnant mother.

During pregnancy, you are faced with changes in your body and your skin is no exception. Skin changes during pregnancy occur mainly due to hormones.

Common skin conditions that you face during pregnancy are dry, dark skin (a condition known as melasma or cholasma), and pimples.

After 9 months of pregnancy and at the birth of a baby, the skin of many women becomes more beautiful than before. But for others, on the contrary, their skin becomes worse or worse now frecks. In addition to skin problems, many post-birth women also face hair loss.

Retinol is also known as retin-A or retinyl palmitate, which is a form of vitamin A.

Vitamin A is an important nutrient necessary for the body. Vitamin A after being consumed or absorbed through the skin, the body will be converted into retinol.

Some anti-aging skincare products use retinol to treat acne, reduce wrinkles, help restore skin cells at the surface level, exfoliate faster and promote collagen production to rejuvenate the skin.

Over-the-counter products have lower retinoid content than prescription drugs. Products such as: Retin-A (tretinoin) and Accutane (isotretinoin) contain much higher dosages. The amount of retinoid absorbed by topical products that are usually low in content can be safe, but with a high content, there are tags that cause birth defects.

Therefore, all retinoids are recommended not to be used during pregnancy. Prescription retinoids such as Accutane have been recorded as being able to cause a 20 to 35% risk of serious birth defects and with about 60% of children having neurological problems when interacting with them while they are in the uterus.

Salicylic acid is a common component used to treat acne. A 2013 study concluded that products that provide high amounts of salicylic acid, such as skinning pills and oral medications, should be avoided during pregnancy.

Hydroquinone is a prescription product used to lighten the skin or reduce skin pigmentation that occurs due to melasma, darkening of the skin that can occur during pregnancy.

There is no proven link between severe birth defects or side effects when taking hydroquinone. But since the body can absorb significant amounts of hydroquinone compared to other components, limiting contact (if any) during pregnancy is the safest way.

The most common type of phthalate used in skin care products is diethyl phthalate (DEP). DEP helps products such as moisturizers and lotions penetrate the skin better.

However, phthalates are known to be endemakers. This means that once in our body they can interfere with the normal functioning of hormones. Therefore, it is best to use beauty products containing Phthalates during pregnancy.

In sunscreens containing oxybenzone is known as the most frequently used ultraviolet filter in sunscreens. It has been proven to be effective in protecting the skin but it also has harmful effects on health and the environment.

However, during pregnancy the exposure to oxybenzone is not good, since it is the cause of endormonal disorders. So if used in pregnancy, it can disrupt hormones, leading to neurological problems, attention loss hypertensity (ADHD), obesity in the child.

If you are prone to pimples or see that the skin has dark manifestations, then there are several options for using products containing glycolic acid.

Glycolic acid can be effective in reducing wrinkles, lightening the skin and reducing enhanced skin pigmentation, which is considered safe to treat acne during pregnancy.

Local antioxidants such as vitamin C are known to strengthen the immune system and prevent free radicals in the body, enhancing the vitality of the skin safely by protecting the skin from damage and maintaining collagen.

In addition, other safe antioxidants for pregnant women can use include: Vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B3, green tea

To limit dryness of the skin during pregnancy, in addition to drinking plenty of water, the use of moisturizing products with coconut oil, butter, cocoa, peptides and hyaluronic acid (HA) is also used in improving hydration.

Try mineral-based sunscreens including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. In addition, to protect the skin from UV rays, do not forget about the habit of using a wide-brimmed hat when going out.

In the sea of beauty products flooding the market, there are a few brands dedicated to pregnant women. Below are the brands you can consider are Belli Skincare, Earth Mama Organics, Erbavia Organic Skincare, BeautyCounter

To choose cosmetics for pregnant women safely, first discuss the safety of your skin care products with dermatologists and obstetrician and gynecologists, especially if you are taking prescription drugs or are worried about pre-20s skin conditions.

Next, you can review your product ingredients list to find any unsafe ingredients. Since personal care products are not strictly regulated, you should refer to the ingredients of each product with toxic ingredients.

Source: Healthline.com