Creams forbidden for pregnant women.
Pregnancy is an important stage of changes in women’s skin. Sensitivity is accentuated in this phase and many of the ingredients that you used in your day to day, are kept in the drawer for up to 9 months later. And not only that, but many of the usual ingredients of your routine are totally inadvisable during these months also for your baby. We help you discover what they are and the recommendations that studies and experts have given about them.
RETINOL
Retinol or vitamin A is a perfect anti-aging ingredient. If you have been using it in your daily routine and you have become pregnant, it will be best to park it until your baby arrives. Although in low concentrations it may not be dangerous, it is best to prevent and, let’s be honest: you can go 9 months without retinol because, in return, you will be radiant!
Just so you understand: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble ingredient and is capable of intervening in numerous biological processes (from pregnancy to cell differentiation, vision, and even affecting reproduction). It is not only found in your cosmetics. You will also find vitamin A in certain foods of animal origin and some of plant origin (carotenes).
Depending on age and time in life, vitamin A needs vary. According to data from the Fundación 1000 on birth defects, the recommended dose of vitamin A during pregnancy is 2,700 international units (IU) / day to reach the 8,000 IU that you include with food.
Studies have shown that when a pregnant woman uses doses less than 10,000 IU a day there is no need to worry. However, if the dose is higher, especially above 25,000 IU, there may be a risk of birth defects.
If you have been exposed to high doses during dermatological treatments during the first trimester, it is best to tell your gynecologist so that they can perform high-resolution ultrasound studies that can detect risks.
In the same way that you will avoid certain creams with high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy, medical recommendations also include making responsible consumption of pates and liver.
CAFFEINE
If the orange peel does not give you a truce during pregnancy, you can continue using anti-cellulite creams … but with a special precaution: they do not contain caffeine. And is that caffeine is a stimulating ingredient that can pass into the bloodstream and reach the fetus. What’s more, avoiding caffeinated creams will not only be part of the recommendations during pregnancy but also during lactation.
And not only in anti-cellulite creams. Caffeine is also frequently found in the eye contours. Take a look every now and then at the labels.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are not banned in their entirety, but there is a blacklist of them that you should avoid because they are especially discouraged in pregnancy. Especially in the first months. We are talking about the essential oils of sage, oregano, cloves, geranium, menthol or rue.
Probably in many of your cosmetics, you will find them in minimum concentrations (less than 0.10%, for example). In that case, they are not as problematic although it will be better if you avoid them completely during the first months.
SALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic acid is especially good as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic. It helps the regeneration of the skin and the inhibition of aging. You can find it in a multitude of cosmetics for topical use and you probably have the odd one in your toiletry bag, in addition to the aspirin blister.
However, it is also part of that blacklist of ingredients advised against in pregnancy. In fact, doctors are usually quite strict with it, especially in high concentrations (in medications), since in addition to the fact that it will negatively affect the pregnant woman’s skin due to the greater sensitivity during pregnancy, it can be transported by the blood to the placenta and penetrate the fetus.