During pregnancy, your body undergoes major changes. You breathe faster, heart pumps harder and more blood is produced. Also, your body is undergoing hormonal changes.
While the lucky few experience a carefree 9 months of perfect skin glow, for some women it can mean months of nausea and fatigue. Also more flare up of dermatological conditions like acne, dry & sensitive skin, stretch marks to dark spots. Women with pre-existing skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea may also experience a change in their symptoms, better, or worse.
While some of these problems can be easily remedied with everyday over-the-counter products, there are some skincare ingredients to avoid.
You are standing in front of a store shelf full of skin care products and all you think is; how do I get rid of my dry skin, pigment spots or pimples. Which is very understandable. It is still wise to avoid certain cosmetic substances. Often because we do not know how much of it is absorbed into the body, what the substances do in your body during pregnancy and which cosmetic ingredients are passed on during breastfeeding. There are three skin penetration routes of cosmetic ingredients: directly through the skin (intracellular), between the skin cells (intercellular) and through your hair follicles or sweat glands (follicular). The route is determined by the size of the substance (molecule size), is the substance water or fat soluble, is the skin intact or damaged, location (eyelid versus sole of the foot), skin surface and duration of contact (is it a stay on or rinse off product).
For ethical reasons, few studies have been conducted in pregnant women. Most findings are based on experimental animal studies, case reports and some randomized trials. In the conclusion of these trials and studies, the sentences often end with: ‘However, the statistical power is not sufficient to justify use during pregnancy’
Hormonal change and increased vascularization are other causes of increased absorption of ingredients. The increased skin blood flow, more skin absorption of ingredients can take place. In addition, the body surface also plays an important role. Applying an eye serum has a smaller skin surface than a body care. Naturally, the absorption of a smaller surface is less than with a large one.
Some skin care products use a retinol to reduce acne and fine lines. Retinol exfoliates superficial skin cells faster and stimulates collagen production to rejuvenate the skin.
The amount of retinol absorbed depends on its concentration. Based on the Systemic Exposure Dose (SED), you can calculate the percentage of a cosmetic product that is expected to enter the bloodstream. Because vitamin A acid is fat-soluble, it can be stored in your own fat tissue. A surplus every day means that this substance accumulates in your body. Research into the accumulation of vitamin A acid in the body is still in its infancy, but in my opinion there is enough reason to want to prevent this accumulation effect.
The relationship between the use of retinol or retinoids, a stronger vitamin A variant and pregnancy problems has not been directly demonstrated in studies. Studies showed that retinol can be transferred from parent to baby through the placenta, and up to 60 times more during breastfeeding. The Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board also advise not to use it during pregnancy.
I regularly see an increase in pigment spots in the face during pregnancies at the consultation hour. A fairly effective ingredient to lighten the skin is hydroquinone.
There is no proven link between major congenital anomalies and hydroquinone. But because the body can absorb a significant amount of hydroquinone, 25 to 35 percent, it’s best to limit the intake during pregnancy.
Commonly used to treat warts and do acne peels. Absorption of salicylic acid occurs 9-25% with topical application. It increases under occlusion and if the skin is damaged or open. Studies show varying conclusions about whether or not to use salicylic acid. The advice is short-term use, < 2 weeks and small surface area – maximum 2 palm size.
Protection against the sun during pregnancy is important, this also limits the annoying pregnancy mask (melasma).
Chemical filters such as oxybenzone, avobenzone octocrylene and ecamsule can be absorbed through the skin and can be found in the blood. In animal experiments, these filters can have a hormone-disrupting effect.
Another Swiss study investigated the use of chemical sunscreens in breastfeeding women. These two filters: enzacamene (also called 4-methylbenzylidene camphor or 4-MBC) and 3-Benzylidene Camphor can be found in 76.5% of the breast milk samples. The results are consistent with the idea that transdermal passage of UV filters has occurred. The advice of the study to temporarily withhold exposure during critical periods such as pregnancy and lactation.
It’s a controversial issue, but some studies show that those disruptors may play an important role in fetal and newborn health.
Pregnant women should opt for a physical mineral sunscreen with combined zinc oxide and titanium dioxide rather than a chemical sunscreen. More about differences sunscreens
Parabens, a common preservative in cosmetics, are easily absorbed by the skin. According to a 2016 study in the Journal of Chemistry, prenatal exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) and parabens has been linked to numerous pregnancy problems, including miscarriage, low birth weight, obesity, impaired fetal growth and behavioral problems.
More about parabens
Of course there are many other cosmetic ingredients that you can use.
Coenzyme Q10, relatively unknown. CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that occurs naturally in our bodies but declines with age. The antioxidant supports our mitochondrial function, aids cellular energy formation and fights against oxidative damage. More about Q10 and the skin
Niacinamide, also called vitamin B3. An ingredient with many proven effects on the skin. It is an antioxidant, provides better skin hydration, pigmentation reduction and inflammation in the skin. More about Niacinamide
Furthermore, vitamin C (against pigment and anti-aging effect), ceramide (hydration), squalane (hydration), hyaluronic acid (hydration), glycerine (hydration), avena sativa oat extracts (sensitive skin) and many more. Any questions, send us a mail: info@iconic-elements.com
Bayerl C. [Acne therapy in pregnancy]. Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete. 2013 Apr;64(4):269-273.
Soma-Pillay P, Nelson-Piercy C, Tolppanen H, Mebazaa A. Physiological changes in pregnancy. Cardiovasc J Afr. 2016;27(2):89-94. doi:10.5830/CVJA-2016-021
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Bastos Maia S, Rolland Souza AS, Costa Caminha MF, et al. Vitamin A and Pregnancy: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2019;11(3):681.
Hsieh CJ, Chang YH, Hu A, Chen ML, Sun CW, Situmorang RF, Wu MT, Wang SL; TMICS study group. Personal care products use and phthalate exposure levels among pregnant women. Sci Total Environ. 2019 Jan 15;648:135-143.
Bozzo P, Chua-Gocheco A, Einarson A. Safety of skin care products during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):665-667.
Matta MK, Zusterzeel R, Pilli NR, et al. Effect of Sunscreen Application Under Maximal Use Conditions on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019;321(21):2082–2091.
Jain, Ram. (2016). Impact of Pregnancy on the Levels of Parabens and Bisphenol A: Data from NHANES 2005–2010. Journal of Chemistry. 2016. 1-8.
Kolatorova L, Vitku J, Hampl R, Adamcova K, Skodova T, Simkova M, Parizek A, Starka L, Duskova M. Exposure to bisphenols and parabens during pregnancy and relations to steroid changes. Environ Res. 2018 May;163:115-122.
If pregnant women use cosmetics containing parabens, this may have consequences (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212111438.htm)
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