Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: What Products Can I Use While Pregnant or Nursing

For most families, having a baby is one of the happiest of times. For many, it’s also a period marked by heightened conscientiousness about food and overall health. If you’re concerned about what skin care you can use during pregnancy and nursing, read on.
 


     

    Q: I’m pregnant…or have given birth and am now breastfeeding. Can I still use my favorite VMV HYPOALLERGENICS® products?

    A: While there are no conclusive studies that show that cosmetics can affect fetal or infant development, it is our philosophy at VMV HYPOALLERGENICS® not to take any chances with your little bundle of joy. Above all else, while pregnant or nursing, we recommend that you consult with your OB-GYN about any product (VMV or not) that you are considering using.

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    List of Products We Suggest Discontinuing or Not Using

    We normally suggest — for at least until the 3rd trimester, but ideally for the entire pregnancy — that you discontinue products with active ingredients that are not washed off quickly, such as:

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    List of Products That May Be Continued

    Other products that can be continued (with the guidance of your OB-GYN at all times, of course):

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    On Prevention and Sunscreen Use While Pregnant

    PREVENTION:

    Remember that, as with all things health-related, prevention is as important as (and can be more important than) therapy.

    For example, if acne becomes a problem during pregnancy or while nursing:

    • Acne on the forehead, neck, cheeks: you may want to explore our shampoo and conditioner (Essence or Grandma Minnie).
    • Acne around the mouth and/or chin, we invite you to explore our Essence Skin-Saving Toothpaste, formulated specifically for this condition.
    • Your makeup, sunscreen, all other products should also be non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic (while allergens may not clog pores the way comedogens do, they can irritate pores and cause infections, i.e. acne).

    For example, if skin dryness or itching becomes a problem:

    • Our Grandma Minnie Mommycoddling All-Over Lotion or Oil’s Well Nourishing Do-It-Oil can help soothe and hydrate the areas, but …
    • If you continue using creams, lotions, soaps, makeup, etc. with irritants or allergens you risk exacerbating the dryness and …
    • Excessive dryness can lead to cracks in the skin through which microorganisms can enter that can cause infections (something we all want to avoid during pregnancy).

    For more on Dryness, click here

    SUNSCREEN USE:

    Whether you use chemical (also called organic)-free sunscreens or not, we recommend continuing with your sunscreen use, daily, both indoors and outdoors all throughout pregnancy. This can help prevent or minimize melasma (dark spots and blotches) and other hyperpigmentations that can be common to some pregnant women.

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    General Information on Pregnancy/Lactation and Active Ingredients

    While there are no conclusive clinical studies showing that active ingredients topically applied on the skin, especially at the concentrations found in our active skin care, can (positively or negatively) affect fetal development (much less the milk that gets to your baby), your OB-GYN (gynecologist) and pediatrician would be your best resources regarding the latest studies available. Consulting with her/him on a regular basis will provide you with the best guidance for your particular case.

    Some information that may help you and your OB-GYN:

    • There are no conclusive studies showing positive or negative effects on fetal development or milk content from topically applied products.
    • Historically, the active ingredients that have caused the most concern when taken internally are retinoic acid (found in our Superskin Toners) and salicylic acid (found in Id Toner and Lotion), not glycolic acid (found in Re-Everything and Illuminants+ products) which is a simple sugarcane-derived ingredient, or mandelic acid (found in our Superskin Primer Toners).
    • Retinoic acid raises a big alarm because it is teratogenic (it affects growing cells, which blastocysts are). However, the concentrations used in cosmetics are so small that it is still considered unlikely that enough of it can penetrate to cause any damage; still, retinoic acid is, by far, the active ingredient that causes the most red flags for pregnant women and it probably should be avoided altogether regardless of the concentration.
    • The percentage of actives in most cosmetics is usually very low. At VMV HYPOALLERGENICS®, we use concentrations that are proven to be effective, but even these concentrations are quite low. Many of our active toners, for example, contain about 2.5% of the active ingredient in a 120mL solution. This means that even if the active ingredient could penetrate the bloodstream (already unlikely due to the relatively large molecular size of many ingredients) and make it to the fetus (unlikely), the actual percentage of the active that would have the chance to reach the bloodstream and fetus during each application is very, very small—because it is present in such low concentrations as it is, is further diluted in a solution of much greater volume, and is only applied in small amounts on the skin (and because the molecular size makes penetration past the dermis unlikely).
    • For example: 2.5% of an active mixed into an entire 120mL solution of a toner means 3g of the active in the solution. Let’s assume that the toner is finished in 30 days. To estimate, dividing 3g by 30 days results in around 0.1g of the active ingredient getting to the skin per application. Because of the molecular size of the active, much of this 0.1g cannot penetrate beyond the dermis into the bloodstream, and even less could therefore possibly make it to the fetus.
    • This is NOT a recommendation to use active ingredients during your pregnancy — as you can see at the start of this article, we are firm about discouraging the use of active ingredients during pregnancy and nursing. The reason for this is simple precaution: because studies are inconclusive, we would rather play extra safe with pregnant and nursing mothers and discourage the use of active ingredients that are not immediately washed off the skin during pregnancy and lactation.
    • PLEASE FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR OB-GYN AND PEDIATRICIAN STRICTLY.

    Data regarding the effects (positive or negative) of topical skin treatments on fetal or infant development at this point may be inconclusive; but for anything taken orally, you should be conscientious and always consult your doctor beforehand.

    You’ll be seeing your gynecologist soon and regularly, then your child’s pediatrician. These visits, more than anything, will help you best monitor your baby’s healthy development. 

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