It is normal for women to indulge themselves on skin, nail, hair, and cosmetic care products whether for vanity or health purposes. As a pregnant mom though, you need to be more conscious about the products you use. Your hair, skin and nails absorb the chemicals of the products you use and these may be harmful to you and your baby.  Here are some of the concerns pregnant women face and tips for treating or avoiding these problems.  

Skincare:

• Issues and conditions

  • Most pregnant moms are prone to stretch marks as skin stretches to make way for your baby.

  • Some women get brownish or yellowish patches on their faces during pregnancy, a medical condition called chloasma. It is the result of excess melanin production or the hormones that give your skin some color. Chloasma happens because of extreme skin sensitivity brought about by hormonal changes and imbalance that occur during pregnancy.

  • Acne may also develop due to hormonal fluctuations, especially if this is a pre-existing condition. 

• Treatments for skincare conditions

  • Most lotions and creams that claim to combat stretch marks are safe for pregnant women that are available in the market.

  • To avoid the worsening of chloasma, use sunblock or sunscreen. Sunscreen is deemed perfectly safe for pregnant women because it only enters in small concentrations. Normally, these patches will disappear a few months after giving birth.

  • For any skin care products especially the ones for treating acne, it always best to ask your OB-gyne and dermatologist for their recommended brands and treatments safe for you and your baby.

Cosmetic Care

• Concerns and cosmetic products:

For our other minor concerns with our skin problems, there’s nothing a little makeup can’t fix. However, to be on the safe side, it would be best to use cosmetic products with more natural ingredients.

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  • Some products have the chemical phthalates which are said to be linked directly to conditions affecting the unborn children and preterm birth. Although this is not certain for all pregnancies, it is best to consult your OB-gyne about it before trying any product for your cosmetic care.  Lucky for us, there are brands available in leading drugstores and department stores that are okay for use of pregnant women.

• Makeup tips for pregnant women:

  • As your body develops during pregnancy, swelling may occur in the face especially during the late trimester. To combat this, you can use a bronzer on your cheekbones to enhance and highlight this area and reduce the appearance of puffiness. You may also try contouring your face using a good contour powder in order to define your bone structure. 

Hair care

• Harmful Products and Treatments

  • There is no present evidence of danger when it comes to regular hair care and treatments including shampoos, conditioners, and hair spa treatments. However, it is strongly advised to avoid hair dyes and permanent treatments during this stage because of the toxic chemicals like ammonia found in perming and straightening solutions.

  • To be safe, ask your doctors for professional advice before trying any new hair care treatment during your pregnancy. 

Nail Care

• Concerns about nail growth and brittleness and nail treatments

  • Some research shows that some pregnant women either have stronger or softer brittle nails.

  • Because of nail concerns and maybe just out of habit, it is normal for women to enjoy a regular manicure, pedicure and foot spa. It is advised though that these treatments be avoided during pregnancy.

  • Nail products and treatments include toxic chemicals such as dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene. High concentrations of these chemicals, when absorbed through the skin, can cause birth defects and deformities like bronchitis pneumonia or may cause your child to have asthma.

  • In the meantime, you can still protect and keep your fingernails beautiful by wearing gloves when doing dishes or cleaning the house and use moisturizers on your nails and the skin surrounding it to keep it from breaking or chipping on the sides. 

Most of us are not aware that the products we use may have a deeper effect on our body. Our skin actually absorbs the chemicals we put on it so as a pregnant mom, you should be more conscious and careful of the products you use. You must also accept you might need to set aside certain indulgences that can be harmful to your baby.  For safe skin, cosmetic, hair and nail care products and treatments, always consult with your OB-gyne and dermatologist. For more information, you may refer to this site.

Sources:
http://www.cfp.ca/content/57/6/665.full
http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/pregnancy-and-breastfeeding#.UcPhRudHK8A
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000611.htm
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0115/p211.html
http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Abstract/1994/03000/Spontaneous_Abortions_among_Cosmetologists.4.aspx
http://www.birthdefects.org/prevention/healthybaby/personal-care.html
http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Formaldehyde
http://americanpregnancy.org/isitsafe/hairtreatments.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17017909
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11350197/
http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0036.htm