Looking beautiful is the dream of all women, including breastfeeding. However, be careful, the ingredients in cosmetic products will be absorbed by the skin and can pass into breast milk. This can affect the health and development of your baby.
Not all ingredients contained in cosmetic or skin care products are safe to use while breastfeeding. Therefore, nursing mothers need to be careful in choosing the products to be used.
Safe Cosmetics swhen breastfeeding
The following are some types of ingredients in cosmetics or skin care products that are safe to use during lactation:
Hydroxy acids
Aalpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA) is often used as an acne medication. One type of AHA that is most often used is glycolic acid which has varying concentrations and pH. However, the absorption rate is still relatively low, so it is safe to use while breastfeeding.
While one type of BHA with low toxic potential is salicylic acid. Indeed, there have been no studies conducted on humans, but the absorption rate of this material in the form of a topical or external drug is relatively low, so it is safe to use while breastfeeding. This is in contrast to oral preparations of salicylic acid or oral medications which should be avoided while breastfeeding.
Benzoyl pperoxide
Benzoyl peroxide is often used as an anti-acne drug, either in the form of a cream, gel, or ointment. The use of benzoyl peroxide during breastfeeding has not been widely studied. However, because only 5% is absorbed into the body, this ingredient is safe to use.
Make sure the baby's skin is not in direct contact with the area of your skin that has been smeared with benzoyl peroxide. If you must use this medicine around the breast, avoid ointment preparations because they have a high paraffin content, which can be harmful to the baby.
Tabir surya
Types of sunscreen pphysical sunscreen, such as zinc oxide (zinc oxide) or titanium dioxide, safe to use while breastfeeding. As well as chemical sunscreen, such as PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) and cinnamic acid (cinnamic acid) which cannot penetrate the skin even when used in large doses, so it is safe for use by nursing mothers.
Cosmetics You Should Avoid swhen breastfeeding
Types of content in cosmetics that should be avoided by breastfeeding mothers are:
Vitamin A
Vitamin A and its derivatives, such as tretinoin, isotretinoin, and retinol, are often found in antiaging products. This product acts to reduce wrinkles and brighten the face. The safety of this product in nursing mothers is controversial and should be avoided because it can be absorbed into breast milk.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone should be avoided during breastfeeding because it has a toxic or toxic effect. Generally, hydroquinone is used as an ingredient to brighten the face. Hydroquinone can be absorbed through the skin, into the blood vessels, and circulated throughout the body.
Approximately 35-45% hydroquinone applied to the skin will be absorbed into the body and into the bloodstream within a few minutes after use. Therefore, hydroquinone is recommended to be avoided by nursing mothers.
Skin Care Tips swhen breastfeeding
The following are some skin care tips that you can do while breastfeeding:
- Sufficient fluid needs by drinking water as much as 6-8 glasses a day. In conditions of dehydration, the skin will become dry and more prone to acne.
- Limit sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you want to do activities outside the house, use sunscreen and protection in the form of glasses, hats, and umbrellas.
- Regularly clean your face with lactic acid based soap. Use of soap scrubs and exfoliating products need to be done carefully, because they can damage the outer layer of skin and make the skin more sensitive. If you are going to use the product, it is better to use a moisturizer afterwards.
- Use products that contain vitamin B or vitamin C. B vitamins are safe for breastfeeding women and are good for rehydrating skin, reducing redness, and acne. Meanwhile, vitamin C is an antioxidant that functions to fight free radicals, moisturize the skin, and reduce wrinkles.
- Keep a healthy diet and increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.
During lactation, you can still look beautiful, how come. However, use cosmetic products that are safe for breastfeeding mothers. Don't hesitate to consult a dermatologist if you have any complaints or questions about cosmetics that are safe to use while breastfeeding.
Written by:
dr. Andi Marsa Nadhira
