Topical Acne Treatment Used During Pregnancy

Any woman who has been pregnant can attest that breakouts are a natural part of pregnancy. And so is frustration over what medications are safe to use and what medications will harm the fetus. Even topical treatments can be damaging if they are absorbed by the skin and make their way to the growing fetus, so it's important to know what products are safe. Acne breakouts can be a frustrating experience for a woman already dealing with so much, but there are medications that are safe to use.

Ingredients

Most topical acne treatments have the same ingredients, though you will find some variance by brand. Most of them consist of benzoyl peroxide, hydrocortisone, salicylic acid, erythromycin, clindamycin, sodium sulfacetamide, tretinoin, adapalene and azelaic acid. The bulk of these have been found safe for pregnant women to use, but there are always cautions and warnings on any medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription. You'll want to check the ingredients label carefully on the topical medication you choose to use, because each chemical has different cautions regarding its use during pregnancy.

Sodium Sulfacetamide

Studies have found that sodium sulfacetamide is safe, for topical use only, during the early stages of pregnancy, generally the first two trimesters. However, use should be discontinued during the third trimester due to potential harm to the fetus. This drug has been found to lead to newborn toxicity, which can result in jaundice, anemia and kernicterus.

Tretinoin

Topical acne medications that contain tretinoin should be avoided completely during pregnancy. If you're already using a cream with tretinoin when you become pregnant, discontinue use immediately. While many drugs are safe early on and only become toxic later, this one has been shown to increase the incidence of birth defects when used during the first trimester.

Others

Other popular ingredients in topical acne medications include hydrocortisone, adapalene, azelaic acid and salicylic acid. Of these drugs, current studies have not been sufficient to determine their safety or risk during pregnancy. It is yet unknown how damaging, and in what manner, these could be to the fetus.

Doctor

The best thing to do with any medication that you are considering taking while pregnant is to speak to your doctor about it. Your doctor should be aware of current research and how it affects you and your growing fetus. Your own situation may be different from the normal condition, or there may be extra reasons in your particular case to be especially careful. It's never recommended for pregnant women to take any medication, whether it's prescription, over-the-counter or a topical agent without consulting her doctor for the risks and benefits to her particular situation.