Safe Skin Care Routine During Pregnancy
The moment I learnt I was pregnant with my son I remember the shock and excitement.
We had both switched to healthier and less processed diets, upped our exercise game and minimised alcohol. We had been trying for ages and had started to lose hope.
We were overjoyed.
Then I learned about what I had to give up over the next nine months. Giving up alcohol, soft cheese and sushi was part of the advice I was given, but no one ever told me about the changes needed in my skincare routine.
There haven’t been many tests conducted on pregnant women to determine what skincare routines, ingredients and treatments are safe during pregnancy and what isn’t.
4 things to consider in your Skincare Routine during Pregnancy
- Switch Retinol for Vitamin C
As studies haven’t been conducted on the impact retinols and vitamin As have on developing babies, obstetricians advise to avoid retinol during these nine months. Instead, using small doses of Vitamin C within a skincare antiaging treatment is believed safe. Vitamin C, found in Kakadu Plum, helps with the formation of collagen and healing. For the nine months of pregnancy, consider putting Retinol on hold and switch to Vitamin C based skincare. Kadee Botanicals Hydrating Day & Night Cream and Eye Cream both contain safe levels of plant based sources of Vitamin C.
- Calm Hormonal Acne
Pregnancy comes with a hormonal whirlwind that can leave your skin revisiting those awkward adolescent years. But you can minimise the impact on your skin. Removing harmful ingredients such as sulphates, parabens, artificial fragrances and colours as well as petrochemicals, will help reduce outbreaks. Switching to safe skincare free of harmful ingredients is best for you and baby. Kadee Botanicals skincare is free of harmful ingredients and gentle enough for use during pregnancy.
- Stay out of the Sun
With pregnancy hormones running rampant, your skin can be really susceptible to hyperpigmentation and melasma. Melasma pigmentation affects pregnant women and shows up as a mask or shadow around your eye and lip area. It is an increased sensitivity to estrogen that can happen during pregnancy This is where sun protection can help. Using sunscreen and protecting your skin from sun damage can help avoid melasma during pregnancy.
- Botox, Polish and Dye
Botox is a powerful poison that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum found in the intestinal tract of animals. This bacteria and spores are harmless, unless they transform into vegetative cells and increase to begin producing botulinum toxin and the life-threatening disease known as Botulism. This disease is especially dangerous in pregnant women, infants, those with compromised immune systems or with gastrointestinal conditions. While some research has found that botulinum toxins may be too large to cross the placenta during pregnancy, experts advise pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid botox.
While Botox is best avoided, there is no reason to stop getting your regular manicure or pedicure treatment. But you may want to bring your own polish. Switching to a safer nail polish that is free of up to 10 toxin ingredients, is better for you and your baby. Ingredients to avoid include Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, Camphor, Parabens, Artificial fragrance and animal by-products.
Research suggests it’s safe to dye your hair while pregnant. But like nail polish, you may want to read the ingredients label and avoid a few toxic ingredients like Toluene and Ammonia.
Pregnancy is a time of immense changes in your body. It’s best to check with your obstetrician about the safety of your skincare and beauty routines.
What have you been recommended?