How To Treat Acne Safely During Pregnancy
Several acne medications are dangerous for pregnant women because they can cause birth defects. So if you experience pregnancy acne and wish to treat it, always talk to your prenatal care provider first. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, pregnant women should always avoid these acne medications:
-
Isotretinoin . Isotretinoin is a powerful, vitamin A-based acne treatment that is known to cause a number of severe birth defects. Never take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant.
-
Topical retinoids like tretinoin , adapalene , and tazarotene . These treatments belong to the same drug class as isotretinoin. Even though topical medications are applied to the skin, they can be absorbed into your bloodstream and then passed on to your baby.
-
Spironolactone . Spironolactone, a drug commonly used to treat acne and high blood pressure, is a hormone that could negatively affect a growing fetus. As a precaution, many healthcare providers recommend not to use it during pregnancy.
-
Tetracycline antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline. These antibiotics can cause permanent damage to the growing fetuss teeth and bones.
Does Getting Acne During Pregnancy Mean Youll Have A Boy Or A Girl
Theres an old wives tale about pregnancy acne and what it means for the sex of your baby. According to the tale, if you have pregnancy acne, youre more likely to be pregnant with a baby girl because the baby girls hormones combined with your own are more likely to cause acne during pregnancy.
In reality, there seems to be little truth to this tale. As the pregnant woman, your hormonesnot the babysdictate what types of pregnancy symptoms you may experience, including acne.
What Are The Best Treatments For Hormonal Acne Rash
Retin A, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide complement your treatment, but no topical medication can directly treat your hormonal acne. If you have hormonal acne, you don’t have to tolerate pimples. Visit your nearest Epiphany Dermatology Center to find the best treatment plan for your skin.
Best products for hormonal acneWhat are the best things to take for hormonal acne? Take a probiotic supplement once a day or eat yogurt with live active cultures. Probiotics work by helping the gut reduce inflammation, which can cause a variety of skin problems, including acne, the doctor says. Bend down.What acne products work best to remove acne?Neutrogena OilFree Acne Salicylic Acid To Figh
You May Like: Can You Have Lasik While Pregnant
Is Bad Skin A Sign Of Early Pregnancy
Some women notice sudden breakouts and ask themselves: am I pregnant? And true enough, increased acne and changes in the skin can be a symptom of early pregnancy. Especially if you dont suffer from spots normally, this could be a sign that your hormone levels are changing.
In some cases, women may start to experience acne symptoms before theyve missed a period. Of course, the only way to know for sure is to take a pregnancy test. Sudden bouts of acne alone do not constitute confirmation either way.
If you are pregnant, then you may find that the acne starts to settle once your hormone levels begin to stabilise. In the meantime, its important not to pick or squeeze the pimples, or you may be left with scars.
How To Get Rid Of Pregnancy Acne:
Well as its a natural work and as soon as your hormones will get stabilize, your pimples will vanish away with time. Hence some home self-remedies which you can do to avoid the bacteria affect your more are
- Wash your face properly twice a day with cleanser.
- Do make use of toner whenever you get back to home after some outing.
- Try to use lukewarm water for washing pregnancy acne part.
- Shampoo on the daily basis
- Avoid the things to whom you are allergic
These are some of the best and safe ways to reduce acne as solution to get them fully vanish is not possible till the right time. In general, try to avoid taking any medication for pregnancy acne. It may cause effect to the health of mother and baby as well.
Apart from these self care remedies some natural home remedies can also be use which would not affect anything in pregnancy.
Recommended Reading: Why Can’t You Donate Plasma While Pregnant
Use Of Oatmeal And Cucumber Mask:
Try to use the mask made from honey, oatmeal and cucumber. It gives cooling and soothing effect to the skin as well. Simply make this mask and store it in the freezer for later use. Apply this to your face for at least 20 to 30mins and then rinse it with water.
Hope it will help you to reduce your pregnancy acne problem to some extent. Some further general tips can also help you in this case:
- Keep yourself hydrated by keeping more fluids intake.
- Try to change your towel once in a month during pregnancy.
- Do take healthy diet and avoid the excess use of sugar and processed foods. Healthy and nutritionist diet will keep you glowy.
- Dont try to squeeze, scratch or pop pregnancy acne. It would result in irritation.
- Always ask your doctor before using anything for acne problem in pregnancy.
We try our best to help you out in many possible ways. Do share this information with others if you find it informative! Cheers
Do You Break Out More When Pregnant With A Boy Or Girl
The gender of your child is irrelevant when it comes to pregnancy breakouts. No scientific evidence shows more or less when youre pregnant with a boy or girldespite any superstitions to the contrary. The hormone changes producing acne happens with pregnancy in general.
That being said, if youre pregnant with multiple children, you have a higher hormone loadwhich means you are a bit more likely to get pregnancy acne than if you were having a single pregnancy.
You May Like: Using Vagisil During Pregnancy
What Causes Pregnancy Acne
Its not guaranteed that your face will break out during pregnancy, but theres a good chance that zits or splotches will strike even if youve never been plagued by pimples before.
The breakouts, which tend to hit sometime around week 6 of pregnancy, have to do with hormone surges, of course. Specifically, progesterone causes your glands secrete more oil, called sebum.
All that extra sebum can clog up pores and cause bacteria to build up, leading to breakouts.
How Do You Get Rid Of Hormonal Acne
When treating hormonal acne, you need to know how to care for your skin with proper techniques, skin-specific products and, if necessary, in the office. Some people need prescription drugs to soften the skin. The following treatment plan will help you get rid of the jaw rash once and for all.
Best birth control for acneWhat type of birth control is best for treating acne? In practice, doctors prescribe birth control methods to treat the entire spectrum of acne, from mild to severe. Also, doctors may prescribe additional contraceptives for acne. For example, the oral contraceptives Yasmin and Alesse have been clinically shown to reduce acne. But none of them have been approved by the FDA for this use.What is the best birt
You May Like: Can You Get Lasik While Pregnant
What Can Be Done About It
Unfortunately, those with a history of acne, especially hormonal acne, are at higher risk of developing acne while pregnant, Dr. Granite added. So what can be done about reducing the appearance of spots and acne during pregnancy? While strong anti-blemish face washes and products are a definite no-no, there are a few all-natural ranges which are entirely safe to use throughout pregnancy.
What Is Pregnancy Acne
Acne occurs during pregnancy for a variety of reasons. It is primarily caused by hormonal fluctuations. The body produces more androgens during pregnancy, which often results in the glands of the skin producing more sebum than they otherwise would. This is a waxy, oily substance that often clogs pores and leads to bacteria, inflammation, and breakouts. It often occurs in the 1st trimester and tends to get better as the due date draws near. Additionally, women who experience acne during their periods are more susceptible to acne during their pregnancy.
Also Check: Nutraburst While Pregnant
Does Pregnancy Acne Predict A Babys Sex
Probably not. While one very, very small study tied worse pregnancy acne to having a girl, much more research is needed before experts can say if those pimples are related to your babys sex.
Still want to play the guessing game? These other pregnancy symptoms might be just a little bit more reliable.
When Does Pregnancy Acne Go Away
When acne goes away depends on a lot of factors. If youve had a risk-free pregnancy and arent too stressed, expect it to go away in the third trimester or shortly after giving birth.
It can linger post-pregnancy because hormones are still fluctuating in the body during these periods, says Seelal. Unfortunately, there is no set time frame. Everyone is different and every pregnancy is different as well.
Anxiety during your pregnancy or after can trigger acne as well, regardless of how far along you are. Its not just the fact of carrying a child, its all the other things that come along with that, Skotnicki says. Some people will find the stress or worry will aggravate their acne, and that can be at different times. If your acne persists, and you want to treat acne while breastfeeding, many over-the-counter treatments including benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are considered safe. Talk to your pharmacist about whats right for you.
Try not to stress and remember that the acne, whether you have it and when you have it, isnt something you can decideyour hormones are leading the charge here.
Don’t Miss: Lice Treatment During Pregnancy
Visit Us Dermatology Partners
If youre struggling with chronic acne breakouts that dont respond to at-home care, its time to visit with a dermatologist to adjust your daily skin care routine and create a plan to manage breakouts. You should also visit your dermatologist at U.S. Dermatology Partners any time you experience a severe acne flare-up. For deep or infected acne cysts and nodules, your dermatologist can remove the buildup in the clogged pores safely to help you avoid infection and scarring as well as providing treatment to address your acne breakout. When youre ready to learn more about your treatment options or start creating an acne skincare routine, you can use the simple online scheduling request form to set up an appointment with Dr. Rana or one of the many knowledgeable dermatologists at U.S. Dermatology Partners. Once we hear from you, a team member will be in touch to finalize the details of your first appointment.
Find a location near me
Sign Up for Our Newsletter!
Get the latest updates on news, specials and skin care information.
What Are The Characteristics Of Hormonal Acne
During puberty, hormonal acne often appears in the T-zone. This includes your forehead, nose, and chin.
Hormonal adult acne typically forms on the lower part of your face. This includes the bottom of your cheeks and around your jawline.
For some people, hormonal acne takes the form of blackheads, whiteheads, and small pimples that come to a head, or cysts.
Cysts form deep under the skin and dont come to a head on the surface. These bumps are often tender to the touch.
Hormonal acne may be caused by influxes of hormones from:
- menstruation
You May Like: Can I Use Vagisil Wash While Pregnant
How To Safely Treat Pregnancy Acne
If you are looking to treat pregnancy acne, discuss treatment options with your OBGYN, even if they are just over-the-counter products. Many skincare products contain chemicals that can be absorbed into the body and harm your baby. Your OBGYN might offer these as safe alternatives:
- Antibiotics such as clindamycin, which can kill bacteria that causes acne.
- Sulfur-based washes, which often help with skin inflammation.
- Azelaic acid, which is a mild anti-inflammatory acid that can reduce swelling and redness.
But always check with your OBGYN before making any health changes during pregnancy, even with things as seemingly little as skincare.
Theres no definitive timeline for when pregnancy acne will clear up but as the hormones and immune system function returns to normal, the acne will also resolve if it did not exist prior to pregnancy.
What Products Arent Safe For Pregnancy Acne
Many of the creams and meds that are typically used to zap zits contain ingredients that could potentially harm your growing baby, so youll want to steer clear. Acne products to avoid during pregnancy include:
- Retinoids. Serious breakouts in adults are sometimes tackled with such strong-arm products as Retin-A and other topical retinoids . All of these are completely off-limits until after you deliver and wean, since they can be absorbed through the skin into your breast milk and your and your babys bloodstream.
- Doxycycline and minocycline. These are another definite no-no, since their use during pregnancy can negatively affect your baby. In fact, its best to avoid virtually all oral acne medication during pregnancy .
- Oral isotretinoin. It poses the risk for birth defects, premature birth or miscarriage.
Topical salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, two chemicals found in a huge range of skin care and drugstore products, are generally okay to use in small amounts during pregnancy, according to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as well as the American Academy of Dermatology .
However, not all experts consider them safe for expecting women. If youre considering using a product containing one of these ingredients, talk with your doctor first.
Recommended Reading: Lasik While Pregnant
What Are The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Chest Acne
According to Dr. Rana, Identifying and understanding the underlying causes of your chest acne is the first step toward creating an effective acne treatment plan. Once you understand the specific skin care products, stresses, and other issues that lead to flare-ups in your condition, you can take steps to avoid them. From there, you can partner with your dermatologist to create a skin care routine to clear up your current breakout and prevent them in the future.
Individuals with chest acne should work with their dermatologist to create a personalized skin care plan that works for them, but some steps anyone can take to treat chest acne breakouts include:
- Use antibacterial soap to clean the area around the breakout after sweating or getting dirty
- Swap out your thick, cream-based moisturizers for lotions that are non-comedogenic to help keep your skin moisturized without contributing to breakouts
- Apply topical acne treatments to blemishes
During chest acne breakouts, most people can clear up their pimples using over-the-counter products. Acne body washes, wipes, and spot treatments are available in your local pharmacy to help clear up pimples. Patients who have larger pimples or cysts and nodules that develop deeper beneath the skin should contact their dermatologist for treatment as soon as possible. These more severe forms of acne can be very painful, have a greater risk of infection, and may lead to scarring if not properly treated.
Dont Go Crazy With Products
Many women who have acne go full kamikaze with products, bombing their skin with harsh formulas and starving it of moisturizer in an effort to clear pores and dry up oil, says Dr. Nazarian. Be forewarned: That strategy typically leaves you with more inflammation and a weakened skin barrier that is vulnerable to irritation.
Read Also: Can You Get Braces While Pregnant
Using Other Acne Treatments During Pregnancy
Its more difficult to say what can safely treat acne while youre pregnant. Researchers dont give pregnant women medications, so there are no studies to tell us what happens when pregnant women use a treatment.
What we know comes from animal studies and women who have used acne treatments while pregnant. From this, researchers have learned the following about acne medications:
Adapalene : Most experts recommend stopping this treatment during pregnancy.
Antibiotics : Applying clindamycin during pregnancy is thought to be safe. Before using it while youre pregnant, its best to check with your obstetrician or dermatologist.
Antibiotics : Cefadroxil is an antibiotic that can help clear severe acne. In giving pregnant animals large amounts of this antibiotic, researchers havent seen birth defects.
The antibiotics that are often used to treat acne, such as azithromycin and clarithromycin, also seem safe during pregnancy. A few women, however, have had a baby with a birth defect while taking one of these. We dont know for certain whether the antibiotic caused the birth defect.
Pregnancy and antibiotics
Stop taking doxycycline, minocycline, or tetracycline by your 15th week of pregnancy.
Azelaic acid: This is thought to be safe to use during pregnancy. In animal studies, researchers havent seen birth defects.
For this reason, experts recommend that doctors be very cautious when they prescribe dapsone to women who are pregnant.
How To Remedy Acne During Pregnancy
If youve suffered with acne before, you might feel that you can treat this new bout of acne by stocking up on products that youve used in the past.
However, acne care during pregnancy requires a lighter touch.
Not only is your skin likely more sensitive, many common acne treatments are strictly off-limits during pregnancy.
This is because some chemicals used in acne treatments both topical and oral pose a risk to the unborn baby.
These risks include birth defects and an increased risk of miscarriage.8
Acne treatments which are unsuitable for use during pregnancy include:
- Oral retinoid medicines including acitretin, alitretinoin and isotretinoin. These are a strong synthetic form of vitamin A used to treat more severe acne.9
- Topical retinoids are less likely to cause harm to the unborn child. However, as a precaution, they must not be used during pregnancy and by women planning to have a baby.10
- Trimethoprim an antibiotic sometimes used to treat acne.11 It may lower levels of folic acid in the blood and interfere with a babys healthy development.12
- Tetracycline an antibiotic sometimes used to treat acne which can cause tooth discolouration in babies and bone growth issues.13
- Hydroquinone this topical depigmenting agent is not advisable for use during pregnancy due to its high absorption rate.14
Acne-fighting ingredients which can be used during pregnancy include:
Always check with a healthcare professional first before starting any treatment.
Read Also: Vagisil When Pregnant
