Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid While Pregnant?
Pregnancy is, indeed, a mind field. There are countless things you need to take into consideration when you’re expecting, from the foods you should avoid to the products you use on your skin. The latter is usually the most confusing for some, surely the products you have used in your everyday routine are perfectly safe to continue using. Well, no, that’s not the case, there are some potent powerhouses active that need to be tucked away in a safe place for a while. These are skincare ingredients such as, retinol and benzoyl peroxide to name a couple.
However, there are some ingredients that work perfectly well on the skin and are safe to use when pregnant, such as hyaluronic acid. It’s this clever humectant that will be the focus of our blog post today, so stick around if you wanted to find out more about hyaluronic acid and how to use it while pregnant.
What face products to avoid while pregnant?
There are a few ingredients that should be avoided when you discover you’re expecting. Although you may have been using these ingredients for years, it is advisable to not apply them to the skin whilst you’re pregnant. Here are some examples of ingredients that you should avoid using.
Retin-A, Retinol, and Retinyl Palmitate
All are potent forms of vitamin A and are known to cause dangerous birth defects and problems during pregnancy as your baby’s development can have a negative impact.
Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acids
Though it is quite common to suffer from a flare-up in spots and acne, you must avoid using the popular ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, as effective as they are at combating blemishes, they are too potent and harsh on the skin whilst you’re pregnant. For the safety of you and your child it is best to seek the help from your doctor to find the best ingredient.
Essential Oils
Due to the fact that essential oils come in an array of different concentrates and varieties. Because of the vast selection of essential oils, it is unclear of how safe they can be to use during pregnancy.
There are also many other skincare ingredients that should not be used such as,
Hydroquinone
Aluminium Chloride
Formaldehyde
Tazorac
Accutane
Chemical Sunscreens
Dihydroxyacetone
Tetracycline
If you have any concerns with other ingredients, I would always suggest going to seek the advice of your doctor before applying anything on the skin.
Can you use acids on your face when pregnant?
You can, but make sure they are the right ones to use. For example, hyaluronic acid is a hugely beneficial ingredient to use when you are pregnant due to the humectant traits of this clever acid will lock moisture into the skin.
As for the acids that belong to the hydroxy acid family, you can use lactic acid or glycolic acid depending on the product formula you prefer to use. You’ll find lactic acid and glycolic acid are found in exfoliating toners or cleansers which tend to be rinsed off the skin meaning they won’t cause too much irritation to the skin and are safe to use during pregnancy.
What serums can you use when pregnant?
Any serums enriched in hyaluronic acid will be a god send to your skin during pregnancy. With moisture being locked into the skin surface helping keep the complexion plumped, vibrant, and hydrated for the entire day.
You will also find that using a serum containing vitamin C will also benefit your complexion. This is because quite often there is an increase in some skin concerns, such as hyperpigmentation and melasma during pregnancy. By applying a low percentage of vitamin C that’s formulated into a serum every morning, or alternate mornings will help you combat this pigmentation and keep your complexion even, glowing, and healthy.
Is it OK to exfoliate when pregnant?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to exfoliate the skin when pregnant. Physical scrubs containing pumice and other extracts of fruit stones etc can be a little too rough to the face but can often be found in body scrub formulas. As for products such as exfoliating toners, it’s best to opt for formulas that contain milder AHAs, such as lactic acid or ant acids found in the poly hydroxy acid family.
Many don’t realise that during pregnancy your skin type will change slightly, those prone to oiliness may find they become dry and vice versa. Therefore, it is considered a good idea to double check with a doctor about any new skincare products you wanted to switch around in your in your daily routine.
Can I use retinol while pregnant?
No, due to the complications in the development of the embryo and birth deformities it is advised to not use retinol while pregnant. Many also say to completely avoid this ingredient until you have finished breast feeding too as the baby will consume it through the mother’s milk.
If you already use retinol once you discover you are expecting I would say tuck away your retinol product into a drawer, you’ll find that opened product have a shelf life of roughly 12 months, were as unopened products can last over 3 years if stored correctly.
Can I use vitamin C serum while pregnant?
Yes, you can, but ensure it is a low, gentle percentage that you are able to apply every day or every other day depending on how your skin feels. Don’t forget that if you are using a serum or other product containing vitamin C and find it is not delivering the same results as before or perhaps you are noticing some irritation, check with a dermatologist to find a more effective formula.
Vitamin C is known for increasing skin sensitivity so ensuring you apply a daily SPF of 30 and above is one of the most vital steps in your routine. You’ll protect the skin from potential damage whilst combating any existing damage to the skin.
So, hopefully I have cleared up a few questions you may have had about using hyaluronic acid while pregnant. Don’t forget if you have any concerns, consult with your midwife or doctor. Come and follow us on Instagram for more skincare expert tips, product launches, and exclusive discounts.
