Pregnant women should avoid the following skin-care ingredients.

Before we get started with our list, keep in mind that there is a paucity of evidence-based research on the safety of certain goods during pregnancy. Clinical experiments on pregnant women, even if they only hint at the dangers of specific medications, are virtually always unethical.

Animal research, anecdotal evidence, and case studies, on the other hand, have demonstrated that a few common skin-care chemicals have serious effects on the foetus. Our proposals are built on this foundation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires cosmetics to be “safe” based on their intended uses and labelling, but they do not require FDA approval to be sold.

All of this raises the question of which cosmetics are genuinely safe to use when expecting a child.

High dosages of salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is a typical acne therapy component that has anti-inflammatory properties similar to aspirin. According to a 2013 study, high-dose salicylic acid products, such as peels and oral medicines, should be avoided during pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, on the other hand, has declared lower-dose topical OTC salicylic acid therapy to be safe (ACOG).

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is a prescription drug used to lighten or reduce skin pigmentation caused by melasma and chloasma, both of which can be exacerbated by pregnancy.

There haven’t been any major birth malformations or negative effects associated to hydroquinone. However, because hydroquinone absorbs a lot of water (according to this study, 25 to 35 percent), it’s better to avoid it (if at all) during pregnancy.

Phthalates

Phthalates are hormone disruptive compounds that can be found in a variety of cosmetics and personal care items. Pthalates have caused major reproductive and hormone disorders in animals. Despite the fact that there are few human studies to support this up, the FDA and professional medical organisations such as the American Academy of Paediatrics are increasingly looking into endocrine disruptors for their potential to damage congenital reproductive health.

Cosmetics are the most prevalent cause of phthalate exposure, with diethyl phthalate (DEP) being the most commonly discovered phthalate.

Retinoids

Vitamin A is essential for maintaining good skin, immunological, reproductive, and eye health. Your body transforms it to retinol when you take it or absorb it through your skin.

Some anti-aging skincare products contain retinoids, a kind of retinol that has become a holy grail due to its ability to treat acne and minimise tiny wrinkles. Retinoids aid skin renewal by allowing surface skin cells to exfoliate more quickly and producing more collagen.

Retin-A (tretinoin) and Accutane (isotretinoin) are prescription drugs with substantially stronger retinoid dosages than over-the-counter alternatives. Although the amount of retinoids absorbed through topical therapy is unlikely to be significant, greater doses have been related to birth abnormalities. As a result, all retinoids are dangerous to a woman who is pregnant.

Prescription retinoids, such as Accutane, have been linked to a 20 to 35 percent increased risk of major birth abnormalities, with up to 60% of newborns displaying neurocognitive deficits after being exposed in the womb.

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