Fillers, Botox and beauty products. Are they healthy during pregnancy and breastfeeding? | Mirror

Our bodies naturally change as we age, but women’s skin changes incredibly rapidly during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and while your body undergoes massive changes on the inside, your skin changes on the outside at the same time.

The increase in hormones and blood flow gives pregnant women a kind of glow, while others have acne, stretch marks, eczema, varicose veins, itchy skin and melasma.

As far as your pregnancy skincare regimen goes, even a safe routine can become more sensitive or irritating to your skin due to a new and unexpected reaction.

That’s why you need to pay close attention to dangerous chemicals that abound in beauty products, so as not to harm yourself or the fetus.

With every pregnancy, there’s a 3 to 5 percent risk of having an abnormal baby, so aside from focusing on your pregnancy diet, there are a few guidelines to follow when it comes to skin and beauty products.

Ingredients to avoid during pregnancy or breastfeeding

According to the Verywellfamily website, the frustrating part about pregnancy skincare is that there are no studies looking at most ingredients during pregnancy, and you have to rely solely on animal studies and make your best guess. The following are some of the ingredients that should be avoided due to their great harm to the fetus:

• Derivatives of “vitamin A”.

Many dermatologists recommend skipping any vitamin A derivatives like retinol, retin-A, and retinyl palmitate during pregnancy, as some studies link the use of these ingredients to birth defects in babies.

Hydroquinone is commonly found in whitening creams and products intended to help fade hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and melasma. However, hydroquinone should not be used during pregnancy as it can be absorbed into the skin at a faster rate than other ingredients, meaning it can reach the baby in larger amounts.

Parabens are commonly used in skin care products and shampoos to preserve products and extend their shelf life. Parabens can be a concern, as these substances are endocrine disruptors and are easily absorbed by the skin. There are studies indicating that it has adverse effects during pregnancy.

Oxybenzone

According to the “Today” website, the United States Food and Drug Administration conducted a study in 2019 that found that “oxybenzone” – which is commonly used in sunscreens – was one of the ingredients that the body absorbs after only used it once, and it can be on the skin and in the blood even after weeks of use. Studies have also shown that oxybenzone can contaminate the placenta and breast milk in marine mammals and humans.

perfumes

“Fragrance” referred to on some labels of skin care products used by women may mean a secret blend of chemicals and ingredients used by perfume as perfume derivatives.

These blends have been linked to allergies, dermatitis, respiratory problems and effects on the reproductive system.

homosalts

Homosalate is found in chemical sunscreens and, when used during pregnancy, can disrupt the body’s regulation of hormone levels. Therefore, they should be avoided during pregnancy so that the hormones needed for a healthy pregnancy can be produced. Another reason to avoid homosalate is that it can increase the skin’s ability to absorb various chemicals.

Chemical sunscreens

The “colorescience” website recommends using mineral sunscreens instead of chemical ones that contain “oxybenzone” and others. It is safe to use a sunscreen that contains mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as these are the only generally recognized active ingredients in sunscreens.

filler

Fillers are commonly used these days to reduce wrinkles and since studies on the effect of fillers on pregnant women are unclear, it is best to avoid using them during pregnancy. Treatments including peels, lasers or injections of any kind are not recommended for pregnant and lactating women.

Botox

According to Healthline, Botox injections are a popular option for reducing the appearance of wrinkles on the face. Overall, research shows that Botox injections are safe for most people, but this needs rethinking during pregnancy.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it’s not yet known whether Botox will harm a fetus or pass into breast milk. Therefore, it is best to postpone Botox injections until more safety information becomes available. Another potential risk that needs to be considered is for the toxin to spread beyond the local area where the Botox is injected, which can lead to botulism, a potentially serious condition.

Botox can be replaced by drinking lots of water so your skin stays hydrated, and it says to moisturize your face several times a day and get a good night’s sleep.

Laser hair removal

Vitality Laser Skin Center refuses to perform laser procedures for pregnant women and recommends waiting until after giving birth to start or resume laser sessions for two main reasons:

1. The effects on the fetus are not known, so it is an unnecessary risk.
2. The results of laser hair removal will not be certain during pregnancy, because it is common for hormonal imbalances due to pregnancy to reduce the effectiveness of laser hair removal and reduction.

Treatment for acne

Acne is more common during pregnancy due to hormones, increased blood flow and oil production. In general, most over-the-counter acne products are acceptable.

Vitamin C serum is also a way to lighten your skin and help fix the problem, but first you need to make sure it’s a pure, high-quality vitamin and that there aren’t any other ingredients that could be harmful during pregnancy. To treat acne, you should also keep your bed clean and clean your pillowcases and sheets often, as well as avoid touching your face.

Anti aging and wrinkles

According to the website “healthline,” topical antioxidants like “vitamin C” work safely to improve skin vitality, protect it from damage, and preserve collagen. Other pregnancy-safe antioxidants you can try in your skin care products include vitamins E, K, and B3 and green tea.

Dry skin and stretch marks

To treat dry skin, drink lots of water and use moisturizers that contain coconut oil, cocoa butter, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. And in terms of stretch marks, one strategy to prevent them is to moisturize frequently to help your skin stretch naturally as your belly continues to grow.

melasma

Melasma is very common during pregnancy and often appears as gray or brown patches on the face due to the increased production of melanin due to hormones.

It is best treated by wearing a sunscreen hat and limiting sun exposure, then fade after pregnancy. And if it continues after childbirth, it can be treated with laser beams, but first it is better to wait for the hormones to return to their normal levels.

Spider veins/varicose veins

Spider veins or varicose veins appear due to the change in hormones and increased blood flow during pregnancy. To improve this, you need to move frequently, exercise regularly, and wear compression stockings.

Chemical hair straightening

The Verywellfamily website states that it is wise to avoid chemical hair straightening during pregnancy. Why there are so many concerns about the chemicals used in hair straightening products, which include formaldehyde, the ingredient used in human embalming fluid, which is absorbed through the scalp and potentially into the fetus.

Hair straightening chemicals also include cyclosiloxanes, parabens, sodium hydroxide, diethanolamine, phthalates, benzophenone-3, and triclosan. These chemicals present potential risks to human health and the environment and can disrupt the endocrine or respiratory systems and can harm a developing fetus.

The fumes from these chemicals can be inhaled during the ironing process which can be very harmful to the fetus.

Coloring and dyeing hair

Hair coloring is considered safe, especially in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. But you should choose a natural or herbal dye, without ammonia.