Every pregnant woman needs to be more careful and selective in choosing beauty products that are safe for pregnant women. This is because some types of beauty products may contain ingredients that can harm the condition of pregnant women and fetuses.
During pregnancy, anything that enters the body of a pregnant woman can affect the growing fetus. Likewise with chemicals from beauty products that pregnant women use every day.
Several types of substances or ingredients contained in beauty products or cosmetics can enter through the pores and flow through the bloodstream. These substances can cross the placenta and enter the body of the fetus.
Therefore, it is important for every pregnant woman to know which beauty products are safe to use or need to be avoided during pregnancy.
Get to know Beauty Products and Content to Avoid
The following are some examples of beauty products that are quite often used by pregnant women and the ingredients that need to be avoided in them:
1. Teeth whitening
Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in teeth whitening. This ingredient is also present in toothpaste or mouthwash that can whiten teeth. Although it is said to be safe to use during pregnancy, until now there have not been many studies that prove that these chemicals are safe for pregnant women and fetuses.
Therefore, pregnant women are advised not to use teeth whitening and choose toothpaste or mouthwash that contains fluoride.
2. Sunscreen
During pregnancy, pregnant women are still recommended to use sunscreen that has SPF 30 so that their skin is protected from UV rays. Unfortunately, not all sunscreens are safe for use by pregnant women because the ingredients contained in them can enter the bloodstream and affect the condition of the fetus.
When using sunscreen, pregnant women should choose products that do not contain the following ingredients:
- Oxybenzone
- Avobenzone or octinoxate
- Ensulizole
- Octisalate
- Homosalate
- Octocrylene
- Octinoxate
As an alternative, pregnant women can use sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide because it is believed to be safer.
In addition, pregnant women are also recommended to wear clothes that cover the entire body surface, sunglasses, and wide hats when doing outdoor activities. Also avoid direct sunlight from 10 am to 4 pm, because ultraviolet light exposure is very high at these hours.
3. Acne medicine
The skin of pregnant women is prone to breakouts due to an increase in pregnancy hormones, such as estrogen. However, pregnant women are not advised to use acne medications that contain tretinoin, tetracycline, and isotretinoin. because it is dangerous for the fetus and can cause the fetus to have congenital abnormalities.
Besides being contained in acne medications, isotretinoin and tretinoin are usually also contained in other beauty products, such as antiaging serums (anti aging).
To treat acne, pregnant women are recommended to choose acne medications containing salicylic acid, azaleic acid, or benzoyl peroxide because these ingredients are considered safe for pregnant women.
However, to ensure the dosage and safety, pregnant women still need to consult a doctor before using any type of medication, including acne medication.
If you don't want to use drugs, pregnant women can use some natural ingredients to treat acne, such as honey and oatmeal.
4. Perfume
The use of perfume during pregnancy is actually quite safe. However, pregnant women should choose perfumes that do not contain phthalates. A study states that exposure to phthalates during pregnancy can increase the risk of neurological disorders and fetal development.
In addition, the sharp smell of perfume can also make pregnant women feel uncomfortable. Some pregnant women who experience morning sickness You may experience vomiting and nausea that gets worse when you smell a strong perfume.
As a substitute for perfume, pregnant women can use a few drops of essential oils to try to overcome the complaints of nausea during pregnancy and get a relaxing effect.
5. Shampoo and soap
Pregnant women should avoid bath soaps or shampoos that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). This material is said to increase the risk of congenital abnormalities in the fetus.
In addition to SLS, pregnant women should also not use soap or shampoo that contains parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and methylisothiazolinone.
To avoid these ingredients, choose shampoos and bath soaps that contain natural ingredients. Currently, there are more and more products that carry the natural concept by minimizing the use of synthetic chemicals.
6. make up
For pregnant women who are used to using make up, pay attention to the ingredients contained in it. As with acne treatment products, pregnant women should avoid cosmetic or cosmetic products make up containing retinoic acid or tretinoin, parabens, perfumes, talc, aluminum powder, and formaldehyde.
If need make up during pregnancy, choose make up with label ‘non-comedogenic' or ‘nonacnegenic' which is oil free and does not clog pores. To be safer, pregnant women can also usemake up mineral or water based.
7. Lipstick
Various brands of lipstick contain heavy metals, such as cadmium, aluminum, cobalt, titanium, manganese, mercury, chromium, copper, and nickel. The content is at risk of being absorbed through the skin or lips and even swallowed when pregnant women eat or drink.
If too often exposed to these chemicals, pregnant women will be more at risk of miscarriage. Not only that, the chemical content in lipstick can also cause the fetus to have brain, nerve, and kidney disorders.
Therefore, pregnant women should read carefully every content in lipstick products. If possible, reduce or stop excessive use of lipstick during pregnancy.
8. Nail polish and hairspray
There are several nail color or nail polish products and hairspray containing hazardous substances phthalates. If you want to use nail polish, pregnant women should choose nail polish that does not contain these ingredients. Meanwhile, for alternative uses hairspray, pregnant women can use mousse or gel light textured hair.
Whatever beauty product you want to use, pregnant women should re-examine the product's content by reading the product packaging label more carefully.
If pregnant women are currently using products that contain the hazardous ingredients mentioned above, there is no need to panic first. If not used too often or too much, these beauty products may still be safe for pregnant women and fetuses. how come.
However, considering the potential dangers, from now on pregnant women should limit or stop using beauty products with the above ingredients. Instead, choose beauty products that are safe for pregnant women, for example, those with mild formulations and natural ingredients.
If pregnant women still feel confused about choosing a safe beauty product, don't hesitate to consult a gynecologist.
