The Best Pregnancy-Safe Acne Treatments, Backed By Doctors and More than 1,300 Moms

The Best Pregnancy-Safe Acne Treatments, Backed By Doctors and More than 1,300 Moms

The Best Pregnancy-Safe Acne Treatments, Backed By Doctors and More than 1,300 Moms

is thayers witch hazel safe during pregnancy

The hormonal ups and downs of pregnancy can be unpredictable and lead to a host of unanticipated side effects, with acne being one of them. However, the causes of these breakouts differ from those in non-pregnant individuals. Not to mention many skincare ingredients need to be avoided during pregnancy, so finding a pregnancy-safe acne treatment that effectively clears your skin is essential.

According to Kate Viola, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Partners, the various changes that occur during pregnancy — such as increased blood flow, oil production, and fluctuating hormones — can lead to acne. “Physiological changes [during pregnancy] include increased skin sensitivity, pigmentation, superficial vessels, and dryness, as well as worsening of pre-existing skin conditions,” she explains. Women undergoing hormonal fertility treatments, like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), may also experience heightened skin sensitivity, which can contribute to acne.

However, as mentioned earlier, your usual acne treatment might not be safe during this time. While you should ultimately consult with your dermatologist and OB/GYN to find a pregnancy-safe acne treatment, we’ve compiled a list of such treatments to help get you started.

How We Chose the Best Pregnancy-Safe Acne Treatments

To compile our list of the best available pregnancy-safe acne treatments, we first consulted four dermatologists: Anne Truitt, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California; Kate Viola, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Partners in Sparks, Maryland; Stephanie Saxton-Daniels, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Dallas, Texas; and Gary Goldfaden, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Goldfaden MD. We spoke to them, and referenced recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology, to determine which acne-fighting ingredients were safe to use during pregnancy and which ingredients to avoid. Based on this, we eliminated any products that contained the following:

  • Retinoids/Retinol: Dr. Viola notes that because vitamin A is essential for fetal development, “the vitamin A in retinoids/retinol can easily be transferred from mother to baby via the placenta in amounts far larger than needed, making it a no-go during pregnancy.” This can potentially lead to developmental issues, so be cautious of any treatments containing this ingredient.
  • Parabens: Dr. Goldfaden points out that “parabens have been shown to cause cell changes in animals and should be avoided not only during pregnancy but always.”

We also excluded products with high doses of salicylic acid. According to Dr. Goldfaden, high doses of salicylic acid can act as blood thinners, which in some cases could lead to miscarriage when used continuously. Both the American Academy of Dermatology and Dr. Viola agree that using salicylic acid in small doses — around 2 percent or less — and limiting its use to small areas of the face should not cause harmful side effects.

After compiling an initial list of 20 pregnancy-safe acne treatments, we further narrowed it down based on results from the 2024 Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Awards, where over 1,300 moms voted on their favorite skincare products, including those that treat acne. We also considered recommendations from What to Expect community members, as their endorsements suggest the products are worth considering.

This post was last modified on November 23, 2024 12:30 pm