Are there any ingredients that I should avoid?

While trying to conceive you can use almost anything that you would ordinarily use for your skin with the exception of any vitamin A containing lotions, creams etc. These generally contain retinol or the word retinyl or vitamin A. The most obvious example being Accutane, which is dangerous to developing fetuses. Most authorities recommend being off these substances for 1 to 3 months prior to conceiving.

The problem with many topical medications for skin is that they are not well studied in human pregnancies. When obstetricians tell their patients that a medication is "safe", this is based on information from animal studies where that medication is given to laboratory animals and they observe what happens to fertility and reproduction. They look for changes in birth weight and malformations. If the animal studies show no harm then we assume the same for humans, which you can imagine may not be true.

While trying to conceive there is little concern about most topical medications. Once you are pregnant, then you must be a bit more careful. Salicylic acids, antibiotics such as tetracycline and certain other components of skin care products may not be safe. During the two week period from conception to one's missed period is a time when it is generally felt that most medications do not cause harm. However, after the missed period (which will correspond to your pregnancy test being positive) organ system development begins and you should be more careful.

If you are uncertain about any ingredient in your skin cream ask your doctor to look it up in the Physicians' Desk Reference and she can help guide you as to the best ingredients to use and avoid. As a general rule a gentle cleanser twice a day that is not overly drying or oily is the best to help keep your skin clear, followed by a water based moisturizer. A diet low in fat, exercise and a good multivitamin or prenatal vitamin have also been shown to improve skin quality. Many women notice a change in their skin in early pregnancy which is due to adjustment to the new levels of hormones. They adapt to this in a few weeks and the changes settle down. Best of luck to you.

Answered by Dr. Lynn Friedman, M.D.