Pregnancy 101: Why should expecting mothers avoid these skincare ingredients?

Congratulations to the couple! Filled with excitement and nerves, you must have a list of dos and don'ts provided by your family and your doctor. And now you are doing your research? That's great. We join in helping you out with some essential natural skincare tips to follow during pregnancy. Get a radiant look today. 

Take a close look at your skincare products. What you feed into your skin during your pregnancy is as important as what you put into your belly. Many researchers talk about safe and unsafe food items during pregnancy, but there is only a little research done to date on safe and natural skincare routines for pregnant mothers.

So here is a list of skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy.

Discuss with your gynecologist and dermatologist about natural face care and correct skincare products to use during pregnancy. What you will come across is that there are certain ingredients in your skincare products that you need to steer clear of during this time.

1. Retinoids: Many retinoid medications are proven to harm babies in the womb. Doctors advise you to cut off these medications from your life when you are trying for a baby and while you are pregnant. During this time, look out for these skincare and cosmetic ingredients to avoid: retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, isotretinoin, adapalene, tretinoin, and tazarotene. Try using a herbal hand wash or a natural face cleanser instead of a chemical one.
2. Sunscreens: While SPF is a necessity throughout the year, pregnancy months must be an exception. You can depend on natural skincare products or post-delivery skincare to make up for that because many synthetic skincare products are filled with chemicals that harm the body during pregnancy. Avoid sunscreens that include these ingredients: octocrylene, oxybenzone, homosalate. You can replace your sunscreen with a natural skincare product with zinc oxide, protecting the skin and blocking UVA and UVB rays. Talking about hand care, try a herbal hand lotion and apply it whenever you wash your hands.
3. Phthalates: Most synthetic face care products and cosmetics contain phthalates in high quantities. They manufacture products like vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, and plastic toys to make them more durable. Brands use phlathlets in products like anti-ageing creams, perfumes, soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail paints in the cosmetics and skincare industries. It is used to work as a solvent, binding agent, and increase the product's flexibility. These chemicals should be avoided during pregnancy because they are harmful to the baby's development within the womb. This is because they play around with the mother's hormone levels, which can be a risk factor for your offspring even after years. It is always better to explore natural skincare products. 
4. Parabens: Parabens are used as preservatives in most cosmetics and skincare products; parabens are present everywhere, from lipstick to body lotions to face cleansers. They have been studied to mimic estrogen and are frequently linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues, including growth delays within the womb or problems in the baby's healthy development. Watch out for words that end with -yl, such as methyl, propyl, and butyl. You can try a herbal hand wash, a natural face cleanser, or a body lotion, but first, scan the ingredient list.
5. Formaldehyde: This chemical is found in many products ranging from beauty to hygiene and skincare. It has been studied several times for causing respiratory problems and blood cancer. 
6. Aluminum chloride: It is a controversial ingredient that has been studied a lot. You can spot it in your deodorant or antiperspirant. It is safe to use in lower concentrations, but try to avoid products that use it in high concentrations during pregnancy. To eliminate unpleasant odours and reduce excessive sweating, search for the safer products out there. Ideally, you should always avoid synthetic colours and high amounts of fragrances and other irritants. Most natural skincare products come with aromatic herbal ingredients that are safer on the skin.
7. Hydroquinone: You might get tempted to use this skin lightener during pregnancy, but don't. While it is used to combat the mask of pregnancy or melasma, it should be avoided. As it has a higher absorption rate than other chemicals, it may enter your bloodstream in large quantities and affect your baby. Discuss natural face care products that do not use toxins to reduce melasma with your dermatologist and gynaecologist.

Along with these, there are multiple other skin and hair care precautions that you must take during pregnancy. Talk to your doctors about it and gather all the information you can. Self-research and family advice are good, but your doctor is the only one who can guide you right. 

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