It is estimated that women use, on average, twelve different beauty and body products on
a daily basis, high we feel but they all add up and many of these products contain chemicals that may harm a foetus.
Let’s face it just because you are pregnant that doesn’t mean that you suddenly don’t care about your
appearance, you may resemble a beached whale and have skin like a pizza but we all want to be told that we are blooming.
Many of us are just simply not lucky enough to look wonderful during pregnancy quite the opposite with all the hormonal and
physical changes, changes to our skin and hair, many mums to be can end up feeling down right ugly. Thank god we can still
find products that can help as most of us as much as we would like to be natural beauties just simply feel better with a little
war paint on. As with everything in pregnancy some products or treatments are considered to be harmful
or just not advised during pregnancy, so we will examine the do‘s and don‘ts.
First we will have a look at the joys that could await your skin during pregnancy,
Cholasma
This can appear as brownish or yellowish patches of skin on your face. This skin condition presents as
a darkening around the eyes, forehead, bridge of nose and cheeks. It is often called the "mask of pregnancy", great name as
many women would like a mask to cover it. It is caused by the effects of progesterone and oestrogen on the melanin cells in
the skin. You can minimize its effects by avoiding intense sunlight, and the good news is that it will start to disappear
after you give birth and your hormone levels return to normal.
Acne
You may have thought that you left this teenage problem behind but it can rear its ugly head in pregnancy once
again it is due to the hormone levels. The best treatment is to ensure that you keep your skin as clean as possible, if it
gets very severe go to the G.P. for advice. It is often best to use a very mild facial scrub even though your instinct is
to use an abrasive one as your skin is very sensitive during pregnancy and can react badly.
Stretch marks
Most women dread the thought of stretch marks but the simple fact is that most of us get them, yes
even super models like Cindy Crawford have some, they just hide them. Stretch marks are caused by the stretching of the underlying
layers of skin and typically show up as pink or purplish streaks, they can come on the abdomen, breasts, thighs and calves.
The only saving grace is that they do fade over time and there are several things you can do to minimise the number you get,
like keeping your weight under control, by eating a balanced diet, get regular exercise if it is safe for you to do, drink
plenty of water to ensure your hydrated, use a moisteriser, containing Vitamin E, elastin and/or collagen which are designed
to penetrate the skin and increase elasticity at a deeper level we will look at the ones our mums prefered later.
Linea nigra
Most women find that they develop a faint brown line from their navel to pubic bone. This is also due
to hormonal changes and will "crumble off" as the top layers of skin cells are shed, this happens naturally usually a few
weeks after delivery.
Ingredients to avoided during Pregnancy
Some of you may be thinking that it is a waste of time buying new products just because you are pregnant, "Our mums didn’t
so why should we?" The simple fact is that some products that are on the market today weren’t even invented when our
mum’s were pregnant and admittedly products they used are no longer available and we know a lot more now, than we did
then. As with our whole site our aim is to give you the information and then what you do with it is up to you. So here goes,
the first thing to avoid is:
Retinoids
Mainly found in the anti aging moisturizers that we all love. Retinoids are a type of vitamin A that speeds
up cell division and prevent skin collagen from breaking down. We can find no real evidence of them being harmful when used
on the skin but most doctors advise against their use during pregnancy and nursing.
What to look for on the label:
- Differin (adapelene)
- Retin-A, Renova (tretinoin)
- Retinoic acid
- Retinol
- Retinyl linoleate
- Retinyl palmitate
- Tazorac and avage (Tazarotene)
Salicylic acid
This is a mild acid which is used to treat certain skin disorders, including acne, and you can find
it in a number of skin products, such as cleansers and toners. BHA, or beta hydroxy acid, is a form of salicylic acid and
is used in some topical exfoliates to reverse signs of aging. This is not to be confused with Alpha hydroxy acids, sometimes
listed as AHAs, glycolic acid, or lactic acid, they are safe.
What to look for on the label:
- Salicylic acid
- Beta hydroxy acid
- BHA
Treatments to avoid during pregnancy
Just like ingredients there are some treatments that it is best to avoid during pregnancy, if you are considering any of
the treatments always tell the hairdresser or the therapist that you are pregnant and go from there.
Chemical Hair Colourings - The good news is that most research suggests that highlighting is safe during pregnancy.
Highlighting usually doesn’t involve direct application of chemical dyes to the scalp. That said, some studies suggest
that some compounds in ordinary hair dye may cause birth defects. However researchers also feel the dose necessary to induce
any damage would have to be extremely high. The other issue is that some people’s hair reacts differently to chemicals
when you are pregnant and you may not get the result you expect. If you do plan to colour your hair, and let’s face
it most of us with grey have no choice unless they wish to spend 9 months looking like a silver fox, it is suggested that
you wait until after your first trimester to do so, when the risk of birth defects is decreased.
Botox treatments – Most doctors feel it is unlikely that botox injections to the face will circulate into the
bloodstream and harm the baby. Nonetheless botox is a toxin so the choice is yours.
Body wraps – Any type of body wrap that heats your body up and includes covering your stomach probably isn’t
safe during pregnancy. A body wrap may also result in dehydration, which can increase your risk of preterm labour. Overheating
can also increase your baby’s risk of developing neural tube defects.
Hair removal - It can be more painful when you're pregnant because your skin more sensitive, although on the whole
hair removal is safe. If you are having hair removal treatments, opt for waxing rather than bleach or chemical treatment,
as your skin absorbs some chemicals. Electrolysis is not recommended either, because it's not known how the electrical currents
might affect the baby.
Steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs - all these things raise your body temperature, and you can dehydrate and overheat.
Just like body wrap heat treatments, this can be dangerous for you and your baby, so it's best to stay out of the steam room,
sauna and hot tubs for a while.
Aromatherapy massage - Always tell any therapist that you're pregnant before you book a treatment, as some products
contain ingredients that can be harmful to an unborn baby. The oils to avoid are:
- Cedar wood
- Clary sage
- Citronella
- Eucalyptus
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Jasmine
- Juniper
- Myrrh
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Rose
- Sage
- Wormwood
Do not apply pure essential oils directly onto the skin or take them internally, unless advised by a qualified Aroma therapist.
We are not trying to freak you out if you have used products or had these treatments we are simply saying it maybe
better to use something else in the future.
Fake Tanners
These days there is a huge variety of self tanning products on the market ranging from those that provide instant colour
to those that build colour gradually over several days. The jury is still out as to how safe they are to use during
pregnancy, current NHS guidelines suggest that with sensible use the majority of self tanning products
are safe to use throughout pregnancy and can in fact be a better alternative to spending time sunbathing or using a sun bed.
It is thought that most self tans only penetrate your outermost layer of skin and so are not absorbed into your body -
which is why the colour they produce fades after a couple of days.
However, the
main risk factor using fake tans. apart from the risk of looking like an orange is that they may cause you to have
an allergic reaction. During pregnancy your skin is a lot more sensitive to chemical substances because of
all of the hormonal changes your body is going through. For this reason you should always do a patch test before covering
your body and if you are in a salon inform them that you are pregnant and ask for them to carry out a patch test. If
you are in doubt talk it over with your mid wife or doctor or stay au natural it won't kill you
Pregnancy Skin Care Routine: The best advice we can give in regards to your beauty regime during
pregnancy is keep it Simple!
Face
Cleanse - use a gentle mild cleanser, preferably one suitable for pregnant woman
Moisturise - use a gentle moisturisers with a SPF of at least 15, again suitable for pregnant woman
Exfoliate - once a week with a mild gentle scrub, always patch test before use
Body
Wash - use a moisturising body wash as soap can dry the natural oils
Moisturise - your body especially your belly, boobs and legs, use a cream that is not too greasy, easily absorbed,
contains natural ingreadients, Vitanmin E, Collagen & Elastin.
Remove Hair - Use a razor or wax when you need to and defiantly before you go in to give birth, being hairy is the
last thing you want to be thinking about
We thought we would tell you about some manufacturers who produce pregnancy safe ranges and give you some suggestions from
our mums about the products they seem to like, if you have a favourite then please tell us about it. Lets face it how many
times have we read patch test this product before use and completely ignored it? Well when you are pregnant is the time to
change this habit it is important because your skin can react differently when you are pregnant, you have been warmed!
