In the clear: Safely treating acne while you're pregnant
Go to:
Previous story
|
 Next story
|
 |
All that talk about the pregnancy glow makes a clear complexion sound like an automatic perk of expecting. But that may be more wishful thinking than fact.
|
"Pregnancy changes hormones, and hormones have a huge effect on skin. Sometimes that can be beneficial for acne, and sometimes it can result in a flare," says Barbara R. Reed, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Talk about a bad break -- even women who've never had a pimple before can suddenly suffer raging acne when they get pregnant.
For the estimated 40 to 50 percent of adult women who still deal with occasional breakouts, chances are your skin problems will continue through your pregnancy -- with the added catch that a lot of the pills and creams you've used to zap your zits in the past are now strictly off-limits.
Figuring out which products to avoid can be difficult, though -- and scary. For Nicole Larsen, of St. George, Utah, it took a couple weeks to register that the cream her dermatologist had prescribed might not be okay once she was expecting. "A few weeks after I got pregnant, I thought, 'Should I be using this?' I called my dermatologist and he said it was okay, but I saw on a website that maybe it wasn't. Out of caution, I basically stopped using anything but normal face soap. I didn't want to do anything that would hurt the baby."
Getting things under control
Being pregnant doesn't necessarily mean grinning and bearing it, though. Cindy Lamerson, MD, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Nevada in Reno, says acne in pregnancy is actually fairly common, but it can be controlled. How? Carefully. Even dermatologists don't always agree about what's safe to use while you're expecting.
Benzoyl peroxide, for instance, the active ingredient in over-the-counter creams like Oxy-10, gets the okay from some doctors. But the Food and Drug Administration labels it a Class C drug, which means that there isn't enough info to give it a green light. In a nutshell, they just don't know. "The likelihood is nothing will happen," says Dr Lamerson. "It's a relatively safe product. But technically, I would probably have people use salicylic acid instead."
When it comes down to the health of you and your child, dermatologists would rather be safe than sorry. And, as Dr Reed points out, "Most women feel they would not want to take a chance with their babies." But with a good dose of caution, you can be proactive about clearing up your skin.
| When in doubt ... |
What you shouldn't use
When it comes to acne medications, a few, like Accutane, throw up major red flags. The popular vitamin A-based retinoid, is taken in pill form over a months-long course of treatment and has caused such severe birth defects that patients must sign a release form affirming that they'll use two forms of birth control while they're taking it.
Although no other drugs have side effects as frightening as Accutane's, which is labeled a Class X drug by the FDA, Dr Reed advises pregnant women to swear off anything in the retinoid family, including topical creams and gels like Retin-A, Differin, and Tazorac. "The amounts of topical drugs that are absorbed are very small. Nevertheless, problems in the fetus have been reported with use of Retin-A early in pregnancy, and since Differin and Tazorac are related chemically, they're placed in the same class."
You should also avoid oral antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline, which, Dr Lamerson says, have been shown to permanently stain babies' teeth.
What to use
So what can you do maintain a clear complexion while you're expecting? Dr Reed gives the go-ahead for these over-the-counter and prescription acne medications, which have been shown to have no adverse effects on either mother or baby:
Most facial masks, like Oil of Olay Daily Facials and sulfur-based clay masks, are fine, too, adds Dr Lamerson, as long as you check the label for other ingredients.
What if you've goofed?
If you've just discovered that a product you've been using isn't recommended, or if you find yourself pregnant while you're on one of the red-flag drugs, don't panic.
"The safest approach would be to discontinue the medication, call your dermatologist so they can find a safe alternative for you, and call your OB and notify them," says Dr Lamerson. In most cases it's nothing to worry about, although your obstetrician can perform routine medical exams to ensure the health of your baby.
If you're already seeing a dermatologist, let the doctor know that you're planning on getting pregnant or that you already are.
"Most of my patients call me up and we'll talk about it," Dr Lamerson says. "We usually end up switching brands." Though pregnancy hormones can make the intensity of your acne fluctuate -- one week your skin is flawless, the next a total mess -- be sure to see a dermatologist if your acne gets much worse or if you see any scarring.
Finding an acne medication that works for you can be a pain while you're pregnant, but it's worth it to be careful for the sake of your baby -- and so you can safely get that pregnancy glow for yourself.
