What to use instead of retinol during pregnancy (2023)

FAQs

What can I use in place of retinol when pregnant? ›

Park says azelaic acid makes a fantastic substitute for retinols. “It's my favorite topical acne treatment to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding,” she says.

Notable examples of retinol alternatives are plant-based bakuchiol, botanical vitamin A-like ingredients such as vigna aconitifolia (moth bean) seed extract, maclura cochinchinensis leaf prenylflavonoids, and nature-identical noreugenin, which is present in medicinal rhubarb.

Retin-A, retinol, and retinyl palmitate: Though it also resides in FDA category C, which technically means risk to the fetus cannot be ruled out, Albert Sassoon, MD, an ob-gyn in Manhattan, says this family of products is to be avoided at all costs.

The use of hyaluronic acid during pregnancy is considered safe and can be used liberally.

Natural retinoids are present in all living organisms, either as preformed vitamin A or as carotenoids, and are required for a vast number of biological processes, e.g. vision, cellular growth and differentiation and reproduction.

Two of the most common products used to keep skin in excellent condition are hyaluronic acid and retinol. What should a person use between hyaluronic acid or retinol? Hyaluronic acid is best if they're looking to moisturize dry skin, while retinol works better by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production.

Despite the low risk suggested by these studies, experts still suggest pregnant women avoid applying vitamin A-based formulations to their skin during early pregnancy. On the other hand, if you have used a cosmetic containing a retinol or a similar vitamin A-like compound during pregnancy, there's no need to panic.

If you stop retinol and do not begin a prescription retinoid, the benefit of preventing acne will go away. The skin cycle of cells being “born” at the base of the skin and moving to the top, dying and desquamating into the surrounding environment takes about 4-6 weeks.

Can I use vitamin C serum while pregnant? ›

Is It Safe to Use Vitamin C in Skincare During Pregnancy? "Vitamin C is a great and safe ingredient to use while pregnant,” confirms Dr. Nazarian. “Thankfully, it's a super safe ingredient, and works well with other products in most basic skincare regimens, such as sunscreen.”

Instead use natural products such as aloe vera gel, almond oil, and coconut oil to keep your skin soft, supple, healthy and nourished. *Your body needs to stay hydrated all the time, especially now, to prevent your skin from drying out. This will also help flush out all the toxins from your body.

The ACOG endorses glycolic and azelaic acid as safe to treat acne during pregnancy, in addition to topical benzoyl peroxide and topical salicylic acid.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

This cleanser, which many dermatologists (including those we spoke to for this piece) recommend to their patients, is perfect for pregnant people looking for a gentle option for washing their face and removing makeup.

Anti-ageing products with vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptides are generally considered safe for use during pregnancy – there's no research proving they're a problem for topical use.

For Dr. Nava Greenfield of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Brooklyn, moisturizers that are not anti-aging, which she says would likely contain an acid, are fine to use during pregnancy. She recommends Cerave moisturizer and SkinCeuticals' Triple Lipid cream, which she cautions is pricey.

While vitamin C is most notable for helping to brighten and improve hyperpigmentation, retinol is typically considered best-in-class for wrinkles and fine lines. And if you really want to give your skin a one-two punch to get noticeably healthier, you can certainly try incorporating both into your routine.

"Although it has impressive skin benefits, tretinoin is known to cause redness, irritation and burning, especially on those with more sensitive skin," Wnek says. What is the mildest, most gentle form of retinol? Retinyl palmitate is the lightest and most gentle form.

So, should I use vitamin C or retinol for wrinkles? Well, when it comes right down to it, the choice is really in what you're looking to do for your skin. While vitamin C is incredible for the skin because of its ability to help brighten and improve hyperpigmentation, the best active ingredient for wrinkles is retinol.

What food has the most retinol? ›

Rosehip Oil is a natural retinol because it contains natural retinoic acid. The kind of vitamin A found in rosehip oil is more beneficial than retinol on its own. This is because your skin will recognize it straight away, so it won't need the time to convert.

Frankincense, revered in ancient times in places like Egypt and India, is the natural replacement for retinol. Frankincense rapidly increases cellular turnover, which means it quickly causes the skin to produce healthier cells to replace aging cells. This effect speedily minimizes the signs of wrinkles and scars.

There is no doubt about it that retinol is significantly stronger than collagen. This is because retinol penetrates down deep into your skin, tricking your body into thinking it's younger than it is.

Retinol has similar benefits, but it's stronger than niacinamide. It's also known to cause irritation, redness, and dry skin. Pairing the two ingredients is safe and can make retinol easier to use. Niacinamide helps hydrate the skin, which reduces the risk of irritation caused by retinol.

Is glycolic acid or retinol better for acne scarring? Simply put: retinols. They work at a deeper level than glycolic acid to stimulate collagen and elastin production to smooth the skin's surface and improve texture and tone.

Vitamin A (retinol) and its active derivatives (retinoic acids) are essential for growth and development of the mammalian fetus. Maternally derived retinol must pass the placenta to reach the developing fetus.

To help reduce the risk of birth defects, don't try to get pregnant 1 month before taking tretinoin, while taking tretinoin and for 1 month after you stop taking it.

In months 4 through 9, the baby's body and brain are growing. Tretinoin use in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters is less likely to cause a birth defect. However, until more information is available, avoiding this product throughout pregnancy may be the best course of action.

Retinol is a powerful tool against aging skin and acne, but it's not for everyone. If you're prone to allergies or have sensitive skin, you might want to try skincare products with alternative anti-aging or skin-clearing ingredients.

Do retinoids cause birth defects? ›

Maternal use of synthetic vitamin A (retinoids) such as isotretinoin (Accutane) during pregnancy can result in multiple effects on the developing embryo and fetus including miscarriage, premature delivery and a variety of birth defects.

It's best to start with a retinyl palmitate or retinol, and to try it for three months and then have a three month break. This is due to research that suggests cell turnover is no longer increased after three months of usage.

Glycolic acid is an AHA that is considered safe to use in pregnancy. Choose a glycolic acid that is 7% concentration or lower for safe use in pregnancy. Lactic acid is another AHA that is safe in pregnancy.

Yes, people can safely apply products containing salicylic acid once or twice a day during pregnancy. Cleansers and toners commonly include this ingredient. However, doctors recommended using products containing salicylic acid no stronger than 2 percent. Salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

For the Face

Dry brushing is great for the body, but for your face, think about using a gentle cloth as a physical smoothing tool. Massage your skin with it when removing a cold cream or face mask. Or you can also shop for cleansers or scrubs that have all-natural granules or powders in them.

Glycolic Acid

For another alternative to salicylic acid, Dr. Engelman suggests glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that's derived from sugarcane. “It's an effective anti-acne ingredient that's safe to use during pregnancy,” she says.

Retinoids, like retinol, can severely impact your baby's development when you're pregnant or breastfeeding. So, if you're a fan of using retinoids, and disheartened by having to set them aside for the safety of your baby, rest assured, you can safely swap vitamin C into your routine instead.

Natural salicylic acid-USP AMI is obtained by an eco-responsible manufacturing process from the essential oil of wintergreen obtained after distillation of the leaves. This essential oil, concentrated in methyl salicylate, is then hydrolyzed to isolate salicylic acid, which is completely natural.