Being pregnant is nothing short of miraculous, but it’s also really damn hard. I recently gave birth to my second child, and during both pregnancies, my body didn’t look or feel like my own, my anxiety levels were always elevated, and my skin? It was a disaster. (The pregnancy glow that people rave about?
I didn’t experience it.) During my first pregnancy my face was constantly oily and full of angry cystic breakouts. Then came the perioral dermatitis (a fancy term for inflammation around the chin and mouth). My very stubborn post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—aka acne scars—from all those hormonal breakouts took forever to go away, too.
I knew I couldn't be the only person with this experience, which prompted me to chat with dermatologists to find out what really happens to skin during pregnancy and learn how skincare routines should shift while growing a human. Keep in mind that you should always consult with your OB about specific concerns, but the following information can be used as a starter guide to pregnancy skincare. Prepare yourself, because you’re about to learn a lot.
Your skin goes through a variety of changes during pregnancy because of hormonal fluctuations. Board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, says this can lead to acne, dryness, sensitivity, and hyperpigmentation. Depending on who you ask, the list of what skincare to avoid while pregnant can either be really long or really short.
"It's a big gray area," says board-certified dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD. "There's very little scientific data surrounding skincare ingredients and pregnancy, and the vast majority of recommendations come from inference," she says. This makes sense considering most pregnant women wouldn't willingly volunteer to be in a scientific study or clinical trial that comes with any potential risks to their fetus.
This is why topical retinoids—a derivative of vitamin A—are most commonly avoided during pregnancy. Rogers explains that, through research, we know that taking high doses of vitamin A orally (in the form of Accutane) causes birth defects, so doctors infer that the topical versions must be bad or potentially harmful too. If you want to be extra cautious, Dr.
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