Being pregnant is a special time full of changes. Not only your body, but also your skin changes. Due to hormonal fluctuations, as a pregnant woman you may experience various skin problems, such as pigmentation spots (melasma), oilier or just dry skin. While many of these skin changes are harmless, it’s important to know which skin therapy treatments you can safely undergo during your pregnancy. Read on to find out how to properly care for your skin without risk to yourself or your baby.
Skin changes during pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body makes extra hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. Many women experience pigment spots (the well-known pregnancy mask), increased sebum production that can lead to acne, or dry, sensitive skin. Because your skin is more easily upset and can react differently, it’s important to know which treatments and products you can safely undergo and use. Certain ingredients such as retinol or high concentrations of acids are best avoided during pregnancy. They make your skin extra sensitive and some substances can even be harmful to your baby. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatments that are safe to use and that will help keep your skin healthy.
What is allowed during pregnancy?
Gentle peelings
During pregnancy, mild peels without harsh ingredients can be used safely. Consider peels that refresh the skin, improve skin texture and help reduce acne and pigmentation. They also stimulate cell renewal without irritating your skin.
SkinPen (Microneedling)
Microneedling is a safe treatment that stimulates collagen production and improves skin texture. The SkinPen is a microneedling device that does not disturb the superficial layers of the skin, making it a safe treatment option for when you are pregnant.
Superficial microneedling
This milder version of microneedling is suitable for people with sensitive skin. It helps regenerate skin cells without being aggressive to your skin.
LED Therapy
In LED light therapy, we use specific light waves to soothe your skin, reduce inflammation and support skin repair. It is completely safe during pregnancy and provides effective help for various skin problems. LED therapy stimulates the production of collagen, which results in firmer skin and reduction of fine lines. In addition, the treatment improves blood circulation, providing better oxygen and nutrients to your skin and speeding up the skin’s healing process.
What is not allowed during pregnancy?
There are also treatments that are less suitable during pregnancy because of the intensity or ingredients used. We strongly advise against the following treatments:
Strong peels with acids or retinol
We do not recommend treatments such as TCA peels or peels with high percentages of acids and skin products containing retinol (vitamin A) during pregnancy. Hormonal changes make your skin more sensitive, so these treatments can cause irritation, pigmentation or inflammation more quickly. In addition, you should avoid using retinol because of possible risks to the baby.
Tixel
The Tixel works with heat energy to renew your skin and stimulate the deeper layers of the skin. Because your skin may react more sensitively to heat during pregnancy, we choose to delay this treatment until after your pregnancy.
SylfirmX & LaseMD
Both the SylfirmX (radiofrequency) and the LaseMD (laser) work with energy that penetrates deeper into the skin. During pregnancy, your skin is often more fragile, which increases the risk of side effects. Therefore, we do not perform these treatments again until after your delivery.
Laser treatments, including laser hair removal
We do not recommend undergoing laser treatments, including laser hair removal, during your pregnancy. Although lasers usually do not penetrate deep enough into the skin to cause damage, there has not yet been enough research on the effects on an unborn baby. Therefore, as a precaution, we postpone treatment until after you give birth. If you had a laser treatment before you knew you were pregnant, you don’t need to worry, but we won’t reinstate further treatments until after your pregnancy.
Safety first: Consult with your skin therapist
Every skin is different and especially during your pregnancy a lot of things change. Unsure if a treatment is appropriate? Let us know! At The Laser Clinic we always work with you to see what your skin needs at that time and what is safe for you and your baby. During a free intake we do an extensive skin analysis, including a skin scan. This way we can draw up a personal treatment plan that is completely tailored to your situation. Want to know more about what is possible for your skin during pregnancy? Feel free to contact us or schedule a consultation right away. We like to think along with you!
