Acne treatment options for pregnant women
Friday, January 29th, 2010Because acne can be caused by over-abundance or fluctuations in the levels of certain hormones, pregnant women can suffer from acne even if they never experienced the problem in their teenage years. Hormonal fluctuations in the body can cause the sebaceous glands to increased their production of sebum, which can cause over-abundance of sebum, leading to blocked pores and acne. Acne is more common in the early stages of pregnancy, and may fade during the latter stages of pregnancy.
However, treatments for acne in pregnant women differ from those treatments that non-pregnant women can use. This is because of the fragile state of the body, and of course of the unborn child, both of which can be affected by certain acne medications.
Those medicines that should not be used when pregnant or breastfeeding include:
Vitamin A derivatives including retinoids and isotretinoin
The Tetracycline group of antibiotics
Hormones
Isotretinoin (more commonly known as Accutane) should never be used during pregnancy. It is a derivative of Vitamin A and is used to treat more severe form of acne, and it some cases it can be considered very effective. It is taken orally. However, it may cause birth defects in the foetus. For this reason, it must be stopped months before pregnancy, not used during pregnancy, and not restarted until months after pregnancy. Even retinoids, which are contained in many topical applications like Retinol and Adapelene, must be avoided during pregnancy. Despite the fact that they are not ingested orally, the fact is that they can still be absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin, and as they are a Vitamin A derivative, can cause birth defects.
Antibiotics can also improve acne by killing the acne bacteria, reducing infection, inflammation and therefore acne. However, the tetracycline group of antibiotics, which include doxycycline and minocycline, can also damage the foetus if ingested during pregnancy. They can affect bone growth as well as causing discolouration of the baby’s teeth.
The state of a pregnant woman’s hormones is very fragile during pregnancy, and obviously the birth control pill for acne cannot be used. For this reason, hormone therapy, such as Flutamide can cause birth defects in ingested during pregnancy.
However, there are many over-the-counter options like Zenmed Derma Cleanse, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. However, it is recommended that you always seek professional medical advice before attempting to treat acne if you are pregnant. It is likely that the acne will fade post-pregnancy, and the health of the unborn baby is paramount.