When you are pregnant, it is good to continue using skin care products, because during pregnancy (and breastfeeding) the skin may be particularly demanding. It may become dry more easily or be more greasy than usual and sensitive to inflammation. Pigmentation disorders that appear on the skin, such as melasma, are a typical problem during pregnancy. According to research, the challenge is the most common among Asian women in particular.
During pregnancy and also during breastfeeding, you probably want to invest in a simple skin care routine that nevertheless works and is safe. Skincare is also an important way to take care of yourself and relieve stress 💜 In this article, we share advice on skincare during both pregnancy and breastfeeding so that you can take care of your skin throughout this important phase! Note that our advice never exceeds the advice given by medical professionals, so always consult your own doctor if the topic raises questions.
Skincare products during pregnancy
This topic evokes a lot of thoughts and feelings, but also, unfortunately, a topic riddled with misinformation. That's why we wanted to carefully collect material on this topic so that you can get reliable information about products and ingredients to avoid during pregnancy. The last thing we want to do is add to the stress and worry of expecting mothers 💜
Skin soothing ingredients
Choose soothing ingredients for your routine, because during pregnancy the skin can be more sensitive than usual, and cannot tolerate similar products that you may have used in the past. From Korean cosmetics, these ingredients are e.g. centella, mugwort and heartleaf. It is also important to take care of moisturizing the skin, especially at night, to protect the skin from the sun and to use gentle cleaning products that do not test the skin's protective wall and microbiome.
Skin brightening ingredients
You can add a gentle vitamin C and niacinamide product to your routine, because one of the biggest skin care challenges during pregnancy is pigment changes, such as melasma. Ingredients such as azelaic acid also help in gentle skin brightening and pigment changes. Yeppo's selection includes e.g. Common Clouds Soothing Redness Relief serum that is wonderfully gentle brightening serum and at the same time it soothes the skin. Brightening products, combined with sunscreen that protects the skin from the sun's radiation , help keep the skin bright and radiant throughout pregnancy.
The often-mentioned hydroquinone is a banned ingredient in cosmetics in the EU, but arbutin and alpha-arbutin, which are allowed here, are hydroquinone derivatives that turn into hydroquinone in the skin, which is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Alpha-arbutin is a popular and effective skin lightening agent, but an ingredient that is safer to avoid during pregnancy. Instead, you should opt for a gentle vitamin C like mentioned above or niacinamide, azelaic acid and gently exfoliating AHAs.
Retinol and anti-aging ingredients
When it comes to ingredients to avoid during pregnancy, confusion is often caused by conflicting information and also a lack of research or misinterpretation of research. People also make different decisions when it comes to skincare, and that in itself can evoke a lot of emotions. For example, in the case of retinol, the studies concern internally ingested retinol medication, not externally applied cosmetic retinol. But since no studies have been conducted on the external use of retinol for pregnant women, and there is insufficient data, it cannot be recommended in light of the existing data. If you have, for example, an acne medication based on a vitamin a derivative, it is good to stop this during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
So that you don't have to completely abandon anti-age skin care, retinol and retinal can be replaced during pregnancy, e.g. with peptides, skin-moisturizing collagen and hyaluronic acid , ginseng extract and, for example, fermented bifida lactic acid extracts that strengthen the skin's microbiome. Such products include, for example , Medicube's collagen-containing serum , which intensely moisturizes the skin, or Ma:nyo's Bifida Biome Complex ampoule , which contains both bifida lactic acid extract and peptides.
Sunscreens
During pregnancy, it is recommended to avoid repeated use of chemical sunscreens - so protect the body with clothes if possible, and primarily prefer physical sunscreens , whose protection is based on titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These are often more tolerable sunscreens when the skin is sensitized. Regarding chemical sunscreens, more studies are needed to be sure of their safety during pregnancy. There are currently 29 chemical sunscreens listed, and oxybenzone in particular has been studied in this area. The rest of the chemical sunscreens haven't gone throught the same scrutiny. Still, as with other ingredients, we go with the principle of "better safe than sorry". Fortunately, in Korean cosmetics, sunscreens are formulated sovereignly, so there are pleasant and light physical sunscreens! Remember, that using sunscreen is especially important during pregnancy, because the skin is very sensitive during that time, so don't miss this important step 💜
Exfoliating acids
Everyone's skin behaves individually during pregnancy, and we recommend being careful with stronger active ingredients, as a normally perfectly suitable ingredient might be too strong for use during pregnancy. If you have been using, for example, a high-concentration acid peel, it may be better to switch to a lower concentration or even stop using it completely for a while. So if you notice that your skin reacts more strongly to a familiar cosmetic product during pregnancy or breastfeeding, you should reduce or stop using it for the time being.
The safety of chemical acids during pregnancy often raises questions. AHA or alpha hydroxy acids are acids with a larger molecular size, which mainly act on the surface of the skin. If you use a product with AHA acids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid or mandelic acid and your skin still tolerates it, there is no proven harm in using it. Legislation also limits the concentrations of these acids in cosmetics, and these maximum concentrations are safe to use. If you want to be more careful, you can switch to a product with a lower concentration, e.g. less than 5% or even lower.
Salicylic acid, or BHA, is also often recommended to be avoided during pregnancy, largely for the same reason as retinol, i.e. studies on its internal use have shown it to be a potential risk during pregnancy. Externally, the matter is a little different, but the general recommendation is to avoid salicylic acid or at least reduce its use to a lower concentration, like 0,5 % or lower. A face wash containing salicylic acid is, for example, a gentle way to keep it in your skincare routine, but in a significantly smaller role. Instead of salicylic acid, you can take, for example, products containing clay , which help reduce the oiliness of the skin and absorb impurities.
Skincare during breastfeeding
How does the situation change after giving birth? Things don't quite go back to normal after the birth of a child, which may not come as a surprise - it takes a long time for hormone activity to stabilize and how this happens is very individual. When it comes to skincare, you have to act by studying your own situation and it is best to consult your own doctor. A few months after you start breastfeeding, you can slowly start introducing old familiar ingredients into your routine, if that's what you want to do. However, some people prefer to wait until breastfeeding is over, while others, for example, start using retinol already during breastfeeding. Here, everyone has to make their own decision, because there is no clear evidence for or against. Vitamin A derived medications, alpha-arbutin and arbutin are recommended to be avoided still while breastfeeding.
Here too, it is safe to prefer a simple skincare routine and to consult your doctor regarding the final decision, because everyone's situation is individual. The skin can also be so sensitized during breastfeeding that it is not yet possible to use retinol, for example. That's why it's good to prefer a very low concentration when you bring these active ingredients back into your skincare routine and get your skin used to the ingredient again.
Finally...
A simple skincare routine that also sooths your stress levels and taking care of yourself and your child's health is the most important thing. In all decisions, it is good to always take into account the instructions and advice given by your own doctor. If your skin itches strongly or a clear rash or swelling occurs, contact your doctor immediately.
We hope that these tips shed light on the topic and help you make a decision about your own skincare routine 💜
Have a wonderful weekend all yeppos! 🐒
Sources:
Bozzo P, Chua-Gocheco A, Einarson A. Safety of skin care products during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):665-667. Viitattu 21.8.2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114665/
Paula's Choice Skincare. Skincare during pregnancy: the guide to pregnancy-safe skincare. Viitattu 21.8.2024. https://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/which-skincare-products-are-safe-during-pregnancy
Rubiales, Rubén. Retinol While Breastfeeding: Is It Safe To Use? 2024 Update. Viitattu 21.8.2024. https://www.lesielle.com/int/en/blog/retinol-while-breastfeeding-is-it-safe-to-use-2024-update-110
Sophie Seité, Seok Beom Park. Effectiveness of a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen in the Prevention of Melasma in Asian Pregnant Women. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 2013, 3, 4-7. Viitattu 21.8.2024. https://www.scirp.org/pdf/jcdsa_2013110415460003.pdf
Health library 14.12.2023. Gestational hepatitis. Referred on 8/21/2024. https://www.terveyskirjasto.fi/dlk00169
