Pregnancy Acne

A pregnant woman’s hormones take a roller coaster ride for those 40 magical weeks. And this often results in acne. The increase in androgen levels ratchets up the sebum (oil) production. This is where the stereotypical “glow” of pregnancy comes in. It’s literally oily skin. For some, this can mean breakouts they haven’t seen since adolescence... or ever.

“I went my whole life with very few zits,” said one expectant woman who recently called Clearogen’s customer service. “And within days of my positive pregnancy test I was breaking out like crazy.”

She was calling to see if Clearogen would be suitable to use during her pregnancy. This is an ever-popular question that must be addressed. The health and safety of your growing baby is top priority.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are some acne medications that are decidedly not safe for pregnancy: Isotretinoin, Tazarotene, Spironolactone. They also clarify that it’s more difficult to say what ingredients can safely treat acne while you’re pregnant. At least with total certainty. You see, researchers don’t give pregnant women medications to see if they are dangerous are not, so there are no studies to tell us what happens when pregnant women use a treatment.

What we do know comes from animal studies and self-reporting from women who have used acne treatments while pregnant. From this, researchers have learned the following about acne medications.

Benzoyl peroxide: Often found in acne treatment you can buy without a prescription, experts say it’s safe to use in limited amounts. For this reason, you should talk with your OB-GYN before using it while you’re pregnant.

Salicylic acid: Often found in acne treatment you can buy without a prescription, salicylic acid is generally considered safe when used for a limited time. For this reason, you should talk with your OB-GYN before using it during your pregnancy.

Salicylic Acid is the active ingredient in Clearogen’s Foaming Cleanser and Clarifying Toner. The Clearogen Acne Lotion comes in two varieties - one with the non-prescription drug Benzoyl Peroxide, and the other with Sulfur, which is a natural ingredient and not classified as a drug.

All three steps of the Clearogen acne treatment system are dermatologist-formulated to be tough on acne and gentle on skin. The percentages of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in the Clearogen formula are clinically proven 95% effective at treating hormonal acne and are relatively low, 1-2.5% respectively. While direct testing during pregnancy is not done, studies on absorption rates of skincare ingredients including benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid have concluded that use of such ingredients during pregnancy is unlikely to pose any risk to mom or baby.

We hope this information helps, though ultimately the decision is an individual one that should be discussed by the expectant mother and her doctor. Most pregnancies involve several trips to a health care provider, so be sure to ask at your next appointment if you are at all concerned.

For more information on treating acne while pregnant, please look at the AAD’s report here.

And after the baby arrives . . . well, that’s a whole other hormonal journey! Again, hormones shift dramatically after giving birth, and can also be impacted by lactating. If you aren’t breastfeeding, you can now start the acne product of your choice. For those breastfeeding, even topical medications should be scrutinized.

As the active ingredient in Clearogen Foaming Cleanser and Clarifying Toner, Salicylic Acid works wonders cleansing the pores and removing bacteria. According to the National Center for Biotechnology, “Because [Salicylic Acid] is unlikely to be appreciably absorbed or appear in breast milk, it is considered safe to use during breastfeeding.”

There is no data on the excretion of benzoyl peroxide into human milk. The general recommendation is that caution be used by nursing mothers when utilizing benzoyl peroxide. A discussion with your OB-GYN, lactation nurse or pediatrician about what that caution looks like is best. For example, your doctor may suggest applying as a spot treatment instead of applying liberally. It depends on what the patient and their doctor considers a reasonable amount that poses minimal risk.

Alternatively, Clearogen offers a sulfur-based acne lotion. Again, there is no formal data on sulfur and breastfeeding. But sulfur is generally accepted as a mild and more natural substance for acne treatment.

Please discuss with your doctor or lactation specialist and definitely do not apply to the breast area where the child may absorb or consume the lotion.

While the joys of motherhood may come with some very literal bumps, we wish you all the best. Good skin is possible, even for new mothers. As your hormones subside and your Clearogen products do their thing, you’ll start to get a different sort of glow.