Acne During Pregnancy - Safe Treatment

What to do with acne during pregnancy for safe treatment? Well as you know, pregnancy can be a time of raging hormones for you. One possible side effect of the hormone swings can actually be acne. As I've written in other articles, hormones and acne are deeply linked.

So, the hormone imbalance is the root cause of your acne. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help regulate your hormones naturally as well as unnaturally.

Unfortunately there are treatments that are a little questionable as to their safety, and there are also other treatments that definitely aren't safe. Of course, be sure to talk with your doctor before considering any of these treatments.

Safe Treatments

The safer treatment options tend to be the ones that work with your body, rather than trying to interrupt your body's processes. That concept is true for all health, and being pregnant is no exception.

• Basic Skin Care
Following a healthy skin care regime is good to do throughout life, but it's even more important now. This means you should avoid popping pimples or picking/rubbing your skin. Wash your face a couple of times per day with a mild pH balanced soap in liquid, NOT bar form. Bar soaps are harsher on your skin. Try to use water-based (not oil-based) skin products to avoid clogging pores.

If you'd like to try the best facial cleanser (in my opinion) that's perfect for acne, try Paula's Choice CLEAR Targeted Acne Relief Toner.

• Eating Healthy
Your diet has a gigantic impact on your hormones and your overall health. I recommend reading my diet and acne page for some guidelines.
• Glycolic acid (AHA)
This acid lightly gently exfoliates the skin, to help prevent clogged pores. It's your safest alternative to salicylic acid and it has helped many people clear their acne all by itself. The glycolic acid product I recommend is Paula's Choice Exfoliating 8% AHA Gel.

Treatments in the "Grey Area"

I've seen various sources that say the following are safe, while others say they are not. At the very best they're questionable as to their safety. But when you've got a baby on the way, why take a chance just to get clearer skin?

• Salicylic Acid (BHA)
There have been studies that have shown birth defects with this ingredient, when taken orally. There haven't been any studies to show this for topical treatment, but the skin is porous and absorbs the salicylic acid anyways. If you're looking for an exfoliant, go with the glycolic acid mentioned above.
• Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent that is used to kill the acne causing bacteria, p. acnes. It does get absorbed by the skin, but there haven't been any studies to determine if it can cause birth defects or if it gets absorbed into breast milk.

Unsafe Treatments

In general, using prescription acne medication during pregnancy is a bad idea. The following acne medications can cause birth defects:

• Retin-A
• Accutane
• Tetracycline

Acne during pregnancy safe treatments are limited, but there are options available. And really, your natural treatment options are the best choice whether you're pregnant or not.

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