Pregnancy should be a beautiful time, but I’ve often seen women spend those nine months stressed out about their complexions. From pigmentation to psoriasis, the toll pregnancy takes on skin can be taxing. Not to mention all the mixed messages about what skincare ingredients are considered safe for expecting moms. But I\u2019m here to hopefully help clear it up for you as a board-certified internal medicine physician\u2014and skincare obsessive! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FDA has a grading system<\/a> of what\u2019s considered greenlit for use during pregnancy. The problem, however, is that these trials aren\u2019t completely reliable because it\u2019s impossible to properly test on pregnant women for fear of harming the baby.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important to remember that even if you buy something over the counter, it could still be harmful during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so make sure to read skincare ingredient lists carefully, and if in doubt, double-check with your OB-GYN before using. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I always err on the side of caution, so while some of these aren\u2019t deemed completely unsafe by the FDA, I recommend expectant mothers avoid the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While your skin might freak out while pregnant, remember that you don\u2019t need to treat all the issues right this second. In fact, many of the complexion concerns associated with pregnancy dissipate once the baby is born. Focus on how your skin feels<\/em> rather than looks<\/em>, and stock up on these: <\/p>\n\n\n\n You bet. Your best bet for optimal body and skin health pre-baby is an anti-inflammatory<\/a> diet. Try avoiding high glycemic index foods<\/a> like processed sugar, white bread and meats and instead opt for berries, leafy green vegetables, olive oil, nuts and fatty fish. I know cravings come at you hard when you\u2019re pregnant, so strive for the 70\/30 rule: Anti-inflammatory diet 70% of the time, everything else you love 30% of the time.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\nMy official off-limits list.\u202f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My prenatal skincare essentials list.\u202f\u202f <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What about diet and supplements? Can they help skin during pregnancy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n