Cinco Vidas /Setting the Standard for Safe Self-Care by author, natural beauty expert & cancer survivor Britta Aragon Ingredients to Avoid While You’re Pregnant or Breastfeeding I caution everybody to read labels and be careful of what products and ingredients they’re putting on their skin, but when it comes to women who are pregnant, wanting to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, the warning goes up into the red zone. Studies have shown that newborns may be born with several chemicals already in their blood, including fragrances and bisphenol-A (BPA). At least some of these chemicals are believed to come from daily personal care products. As your doctor has probably already told you, when you’re pregnant, what you eat as well as what you apply to your skin and hair could end up in your bloodstream, where it can affect your unborn child. Since babies are so tiny and vulnerable, even small amounts of chemicals are more dangerous to them. To protect yourself and your unborn or breastfeeding child, avoid any products with the following ingredients.
Read my ingredients to avoid. I’ve already put up a list of 24 ingredients to avoid for anyone who’s concerned about reducing their toxic exposure and their risk of health problems. This list is even more important for women of childbearing age, and includes key toxins to avoid during pregnancy like formaldehyde, parabens, petroleum products, lead, 1,4-dioxane, phthalates, and aluminum. Vitamin A and retinoids. Derivatives of vitamin A have long been used in skin care products because of their ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. High doses of vitamin A taken orally, however, have been shown to be potentially harmful to a fetus. According to the March of Dimes, women who consume more than the recommended amount of vitamin A in early pregnancy doubled their risk of having a child born with birth defects. Anti-acne medication isotretinoin is also known to increase the risk of birth defects. So far, however, studies have not shown that topical retinoids cause any harm to an unborn baby.
Doctors advise women, however, to be on the cautious side, and avoid ingredients like retin-A, retinoic acid, retinol, retinyl linoleate, retinyl palmitate, Renova, Differin (adapelene), and Tazorac and avage (tazarotene). Watch out for these ingredients in your sunscreens as well!It’s great for reducing acne outbreaks, but the chemical can bore deep into the skin, and high doses of the oral form have shown to lead to pregnancy complications. The strongest concern is related to face and body peels that contain the ingredient, as these treatments increase absorption. Most doctors will advise caution, suggest you avoid these types of peels, and reduce or avoid salicylic acid in toners and moisturizers. (Also watch for beta hydroxy acid and BHA.) If you struggle with acne, ask your obstetrician how to safely treat it, and make sure your skin care products are non-clogging.I’ve highlighted the potential dangers of chemical sunscreens in a former post. A study performed at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine found that one such sunscreen—oxybenzone—was linked to low birth weight in baby girls who mothers were exposed during pregnancy.
Avobenzone can also be absorbed into the skin where it may cause free radical damage. Choose a safe sunblock like zinc oxide during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Acids and benzoyl peroxide. Scientists haven’t yet studied some ingredients to determine whether or not they may be harmful to an unborn child. These include many exfoliating acids, like glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, and even topical vitamin C, as well as acne-fighting benzoyl peroxide. Some doctors feel these are safe, and some are extra cautious. If you’re suffering from a difficult skin condition, talk to your doctor about your best approach to treatment. Above all, don’t panic! If you’ve been using one of these ingredients and didn’t realize the potential health hazards, it’s okay. Just stop using it. Problems are typically rare and rely on repeated exposure. The best approach to protect the health of your baby is to try to reduce your toxic exposure to chemicals in every way that you can, through your food, personal care items, and environment.
Are you a pregnant woman concerned about her toxic exposure? Share your tips for safe skin care. 2 Comments to “Ingredients to Avoid While You’re Pregnant or Breastfeeding” "Like" CV fan page on facebook for a chance to win When Cancer Hits Become A Fan Now WHAT'S YOUR SKIN CONDITION? Select from the list below: Select a skin condition Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation Medications and Skin Reactions Find Wig Salons, Organic Spas, Oncology Estheticians, Alternative Therapy Clinics in your area. Treating Acne During Breastfeeding Acne is a common problem during pregnancy and it can continue during breastfeeding. It is important to know which acne medications, herbal ingredients and topical products are safe to use during breastfeeding and which should be avoided. Acne is a common problem during pregnancy and it can continue during breastfeeding.� It is important to know which acne medications, herbal ingredients and topical products are safe to use during breastfeeding and which should be avoided.� Newborn infants or ill infants may be more affected by drugs in breast milk than healthy infants 6 months or older.
Model PhotoThe movement of substances from the mother to the baby in breast milkDrugs get into breast milk via the mother�s blood circulation. The amount of drug excreted in a mother�s milk is usually not more than 1-2% of the amount ingested by the mother.� Drugs that have a high solubility in lipids (fats) are much more likely to get into breast milk.� Drugs that bind strongly to the maternal plasma protein are more likely to stay in the mother�s blood than to transfer into the breast milk.� If you must take an oral medication while breastfeeding, the best plan of action is to breastfeed prior to taking the medication, that way there will be less drug in the mother�s blood at the time of breastfeeding.� This strategy works best for drugs that are taken several times a day and do not stay very long in the mother�s blood circulation.� Drugs that have a long duration in the mother�s blood- such as drugs taken once a day- most likely maintain higher levels of the drug in the
mother�s circulation throughout the day, so there may not be a �safe� time to take them.� If you have a choice, ask your doctor for a shorter lasting medication that is taken several times a day rather than a once a day medication and breast feed just prior to taking the medication. It is important to discuss the use of any oral medications with your doctor before using them during breastfeeding. The guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics for the use of drugs during breastfeeding can be found at this link.Oral Medications During BreastfeedingTetracycline is the most commonly used oral antibiotic for acne.� It should not be taken during pregnancy because it can have an effect on the infant�s teeth.� However, tetracycline can be taken while breastfeeding.Oral contraceptives are used to treat acne but these have hormones that can be passed into the breast milk.� These are often prescribed during breast feeding but the use of these should be discussed with your physician prior to their use.
Accutane (isotretinoin)- this acne medication should not be taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.Topical Acne Products During BreastfeedingTopical antibiotics- Although the safety of topical antibiotics during breastfeeding has not been studied, it is unlikely that a significant amount of antibiotic will enter the maternal bloodsteam and pass into breast milk.� Therefore, the use of these during breastfeeding is likely safe.� There are safer alternatives such as light treatments that have no risk at all.Topical Retinoids- medications such as Retin A (tretinoin), tazarotene, and adapalene should not be used while pregnant or breast feeding.� Non-prescription retinoids such as retinol should be avoided as well.� These medications are unlikely to cause a problem while breast feeding but there are safer options.Other topical acne medications-� Benzoyl peroxide is a safe way to kill bacteria on the skin while breastfeeding.� Salicylic acid (SA) will help unclog pores.� SA is in the same the family as aspirin and high doses should not be used during pregnancy but it is perfectly safe to use during breastfeeding.
Azelaic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and Vitamin C can all safely be used while breastfeeding.Herbal, botanical and organic medications for acneThere are many topical herbal remedies for acne including tea tree oil, thyme, turmeric, rosewater, pine and orange peel.� These provide no risk to the breastfeeding mother when applied topically.� There are many Chinese herbal remedies that are taken by mouth that could be harmful while breastfeeding, especially those that contain alkaloids such as coptis and phellodendron ,sophora root, ma-huang ,and evodia or those with hormonal effects such as fennel and anise.� Taking these oral herbs in large doses over a prolonged period of time is more harmful than a small infrequent dose.� A table of herbs to avoid during pregnancy can be found at this link.Light therapy for acneBlue and red light therapy has been found to be very effective in treating acne and the inflammation associated with acne.� My favorite device is the Tria Acne Light.� Blue and red light kill the bacteria P. acnes that causes acne and seem to lessen inflammation through an unknown mechanism.� Blue light treatments can also be performed in a dermatologists� s office.