serious facial treatment while pregant

[Anonymous]

What is the most serious treatment you can have while pregnant? My skin looks horrible. Manual exfoliation isn't working, my skin usually needs chemical exfoliation.

I know you can't use retin A, you can't use most chemical peels, and you can't, to my surprise, use microdermabrasion.

Are there any chemical peels or lasers or anything that works that you CAN use? What have you used?

[Anonymous]

my OB said proactiv is safe and i invested in the clairsonic electric exfolitation brush. That has really helped my complexion. However, with the cold weather, proactiv can dry out your skin too much so my derm recommended the foaming face wash by la roche posay during the winter months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my OB said proactiv is safe and i invested in the clairsonic electric exfolitation brush. That has really helped my complexion. However, with the cold weather, proactiv can dry out your skin too much so my derm recommended the foaming face wash by la roche posay during the winter months.

If you don't break out is Proactiv still useful? Does it exfoliate your skin?

I have a Clarisonic and it hasn't done much for me while pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Why can't you get microdermabrasion? I get monthly facials and get the treatment every time. I'm now pregnant and planned to continue getting it. What's harmful about it?

[Anonymous]

what about IPL? I assumed that was safe, did it in my first tri for sun damage and rosacea, but had the nice effect of reducing and clarifying my pores too. I certainly hope it was safe.

[Anonymous]

Both IPL and microdermabrasion can cause or increase the mask of pregnancy. I don't think they are unsafe for the fetus but my derm doc won't do them if you are pregnant.

[Anonymous]

While microdermabrasion is safe in pregnancy, I don't think it is effective. (I did it and feel I wasted my money.) Try glycolic acid peels at home - AVON anew is a good one.

[Anonymous]

I use a skin system from my derm called Obagi that contains glycolic acid. I use the day cream and night cream. It seems to help a bit but I'm not sure anything is all that effective when you're pregnant.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure anything is all that effective when you're pregnant.

That is so good to hear! My face looks like a war zone, and nothing I'm doing is helping- at least I know I'm not alone!

[Anonymous]

I've been mashing up papaya and pineapple with a little bit of organic honey and slathering it on my face in the shower a few times a week, after using a face wash with 1% salicylic acid. I leave it on for about 10 minutes and I can definitely feel the tingly glycolic acids working. It seems to be helping - I've certainly been breaking out less. Plus it's all natural and smells yummy! You can get frozen papaya and pineapple chunks at Trader Joe's so you can make it in little batches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been mashing up papaya and pineapple with a little bit of organic honey and slathering it on my face in the shower a few times a week, after using a face wash with 1% salicylic acid. I leave it on for about 10 minutes and I can definitely feel the tingly glycolic acids working. It seems to be helping - I've certainly been breaking out less. Plus it's all natural and smells yummy! You can get frozen papaya and pineapple chunks at Trader Joe's so you can make it in little batches.

My OB and derm both told me not to use this ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use a skin system from my derm called Obagi that contains glycolic acid. I use the day cream and night cream. It seems to help a bit but I'm not sure anything is all that effective when you're pregnant.

You can't use the Obagi Nu Derm System tho - just so people don't get confused. The other ingredients are bad and retin-a is a big no-no.

[Anonymous]

i have been too lazy to renew my prescription (and after baby #1 my skin is slowly outgrowing the breakouts), but i have acne rosacea and during pregnancy #1, my dermatologist prescribed a sulfa wash 2x/day, plus metrogel at night. Worked great.

[Anonymous]

PP here - I've read a lot of research on salicylic acid and pregnancy, and really it's the products that you leave on your skin, like spot treatments and lotions, that should be avoided. 1% in a face wash is really not a lot of exposure.

FWIW the recommendation to avoid salicylic acid during pregnancy is based on aspirin intake, which at high doses has been linked to increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Since there are no clinical studies showing the effects of topical salicylic acid use during pregnancy, most medical professionals will stick to the party line and tell you not to use them. Of course we should all do what we're comfortable with! I was just wildly uncomfortable looking like a teenager, and after reading the research I was able to make an informed decision.

[Anonymous]

RE: the salicylic acid. I use Bert's Bees face wash morning and night and it has "naturally derived" salicylic acid (1%). I'm going to ask my OB at my appt. tomorrow if I can continue using it, but honestly I will be shocked if she says no. I think the risks are minimal with such a small percentage, and the fact that you wash it off I would think makes it less harmful.