Skin care products to avoid during pregnancy & breastfeeding

The period of pregnancy and the period after birth are accompanied by dealing with far-reaching changes in the body and mind, sleepless nights and dramatic hormonal changes.

These changes sometimes also affect our facial skin, when suddenly phenomena that we have already forgotten about (or never recognized) appear - such as pigmentation, imbalance, pimples, or "just" tired skin that doesn't look its best.

But before you pull out your usual care products from the drawer or go to an aesthetic treatment, it is important that you know that care during pregnancy and breastfeeding affects not only you, but also the baby. So which products and cosmetic treatments should be careful during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

• If you have decided to go for cosmetic or aesthetic treatment, be sure to mention that you are pregnant or breastfeeding. During pregnancy, it is not recommended to perform cosmetic treatments that incorporate the use of electrical equipment of any kind, and it is important that your unique condition is taken into account throughout all stages of the treatment.

• During pregnancy, it is not recommended to perform injections of hyaluronic acid for aesthetic needs such as lip thickening, face sculpting, nose corrections, etc. Although there are no unequivocal studies that indicate a danger to the mother or the fetus, there are also no studies that completely rule it out. Also, the hormonal changes sometimes also affect the structure of the face and may harm the desired result.

• It is forbidden to inject botulinum toxin (Botox) during pregnancy, and it is recommended to avoid it during breastfeeding as well. Botox is actually a toxin, and may cause damage to the fetus or baby.

• During pregnancy, you should avoid using preparations containing components from the retinol family - retinol may cause birth defects in the fetus. Therefore, before you use the product or buy a new product, it is important to examine the list of ingredients and make sure that the words retinol or retin A do not appear in it.

• The hormonal changes often cause the formation of pigmentation. It is possible to treat spots already during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, but it is important to make sure that the products you use do not contain retin A, hydroquinone and silicic acid. There are lightening components that are allowed for use during pregnancy, such as oxothiazolidine carboxylic acid and octadecanoic acid. In any case, it is recommended to make sure in advance that the product you are using is allowed to be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• Acne sores also tend to appear following the hormonal storm, and here too they can be treated - but with caution: products containing retin A, the use of racotan (by ingestion), benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics should be avoided. Wounds can be treated using preparations containing anti-inflammatory components of plant origin such as coleus, wormwood extract, locust bean extract and alpha hydroxy acids.

• In the period after childbirth, the skin is more sensitive, so it is advisable to avoid using aggressive preparations that dry the skin and irritate it. Avoid using peeling products that contain a high percentage of acids and peeling products that contain coarse grains.

• If you have any doubts about the products that are suitable for you at this time of life, you should go to a qualified beautician - this way you will also gain an hour for yourself, a thorough diagnosis of your skin condition, and professional advice regarding effective and safe treatment of the facial skin during the unique period in which you are.

And if all of this sounds imaginary to you, you can't even look in the mirror and all you want to do is sleep, this is completely normal, but even during this period you should maintain a basic skin care routine: cleansing your face and applying moisturizer before going to bed, and applying sunscreen before leaving the house .

Chava Zingboim is the founder of the cosmetics corporation named after her.