Cosmetics to avoid during pregnancy, you know all?

The process of pregnancy brings many different levels of emotions for a woman. Besides happiness, pregnant mothers also have concerns around what should be abstained to protect their children's health. In the list of things to avoid, pregnant mothers need to pay attention when using the cosmetics and chemicals that we mention in the article below.

Beauty is the needs of the majority of women, even during pregnancy. However, in this sensitive period, care should be taken in the use of cosmetics to ensure the safety of both pregnant women and fetuses.

The reason is that some of the chemical ingredients in cosmetics are potentially dangerous. However, this can be completely controlled if you understand what you are using. Please refer to the following article of aFamilyToday Health to update more useful information.

The ingredients in the cosmetics that pregnant mothers should "be cautious"

The changing hormones during pregnancy can make you experience acne condition or hyperpigmentation. Some of these problems can be overcome with an over-the-counter medication solution. However, there are some ingredients in cosmetics that expectant mothers need to avoid:

1. Retinol

Retinol is also known as retin-A or retinyl palmitate, which is a form of vitamin A. It is true that adequate amounts of this substance are essential for embryonic development. Moreover, retinol is a "powerful assistant" to protect the skin from aging problems . However, pregnant mothers still need to stay away from this ingredient.

A study conducted has shown a relationship between excessive intake of this vitamin with malformations of the fetus's head, heart, spine and brain. Instead, you should use a cream containing vitamin C or soy to be safer.

2. Sunscreen

This cream is undeniably one of the convenience gadgets of women today. It has practical benefits such as protection from sunburns, premature aging and even prevention of skin cancer risk .

Don't let the benefits cover your eyes in a hurry, as the ingredients in this product range will make you shiver! Some substances such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, methyl anthranilate ... are hormone disruptors. This leads to neurological problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity in children.

The advice is that you should choose products with natural ingredients, pay attention to the above chemical ingredients. This not only applies to sunscreens  but also to other cosmetics as well.

3. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid

During pregnancy, women often experience hormone fluctuations and increased androgen production, resulting in acne. More importantly, the ingredient in acne products is benzoyl peroxide, which can adversely affect the fetus. Therefore, in case pregnant mothers get hormonal acne, they should see a dermatologist to take appropriate measures.

Besides the above ingredient, salicylic acid is a substance found in cleansers , exfoliating creams and has good acne treatment. However, if used incorrectly, it will also cause negative consequences. You can completely replace it with products with milder acidity such as: glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid. They both have a cleansing effect but are also very good for pregnant women.

4. Paraben

This substance is also used a lot in cosmetics to limit bacteria growth, and help prolong the shelf life of the product. It is worth mentioning that this substance is very irritating to the skin. Furthermore, although there is no conclusive evidence that paraben causes cancer , it was found in cancer cells when tested.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Chemistry showed that when a pregnant woman is exposed to a paraben called BPA, it affects the growth of the fetus, the weight of the baby after birth, even Lice is a miscarriage.

5. Hydroquinone

Hydroquione is the active ingredient used in many skin whitening cosmetics. These products are favored by many pregnant mothers. The reason is that many pregnant mothers have to deal with dark pigmentation that causes loss of aesthetics.

Brown spots or darker areas will disappear after giving birth, but the desire to beautify often drives us to buy and use these products. It is important to know that hydroquione is on the list of substances that should not be used by doctors.

6. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate (aluminum salt)

Many deodorant rollers on the market today contain this ingredient. The US FDA has recommended that pregnant women not take any cosmetics that contain aluminum salts.

To effectively deodorize the body, you can also make your own product from cornstarch and banking soda to help absorb sweat without being toxic.

7. Essential oils

Although some essential oils are still recommended for use by pregnant women, pregnant women need to be careful with many of them. Because they can cause a number of adverse effects. Such as sage and jasmine essential oils cause the uterus to constrict, sage and rosemary oils cause bleeding, rosemary essential oil is also known to cause high blood pressure.

Instructions for using safe cosmetics during pregnancy

The first trimester is the stage when a new embryo is formed and is easily influenced by external factors. Therefore, at this time, pregnant mothers should limit the use of different cosmetics.

When choosing to buy cosmetics, you should give priority to products of natural origin, and at the same time pay much attention to the brand and reputation of the manufacturer.

In addition, pregnant mothers should not wear makeup too heavily and must remove makeup carefully after makeup. Combine with a reasonable diet to get more natural beautiful skin.

Beauty is always an essential need for every woman. For expectant mothers, more careful in choosing to buy and use cosmetics is very important to avoid affecting the health of themselves and the fetus.