As one of my most frequently asked questions, I wanted to dedicate an entire blog to topic of pregnancy and product use.
Products Not to Use During Pregnancy
There is much debate on this subject and the only one that really has the right answer for you is your physician. There are those physicians who will tell you that there are no restrictions on what to use and there are those who will tell you not to use shampoo. As with any health related condition, I will always defer to the advice of your physician who knows you and is familiar with your individual health concerns.
Retinol is a non-prescription strength form of Vitamin A, and while it can be stored in the body, it is not absorbed into the blood stream. While many doctors and professionals will tell you that this is not a concern during pregnancy, this is the one ingredient that we recommend to be avoided during pregnancy. This ingredient is found in the Regeneration Overnight.
Outside of retinol, the other products and ingredients should not be of concern at cosmetic strengths unless your physician has advised you on the contrary. Always listen to your doctor and always ask for their opinion if there are questions regarding your risks during pregnancy.
There has been much discussion on the use of bath additives during pregnancy and what is recommended and what is to be avoided. I have many people email me to ask which bath additive is appropriate or which to be avoided during pregnancy. The bottom line on this subject is the same as my recommendation above, always seek the advice of your physician who knows you and is familiar with your individual health concerns. As a general rule, most physicians will recommend that baths be avoided during pregnancy altogether. There are no products that contain ingredients that would cause an adverse reaction, but since baths are generally not recommended, there are none that I would recommend during pregnancy.
Products to Recommend During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the skin and the body will undergo tremendous changes. Typically speaking, as hormone levels fluctuate, acne breakouts may occur. In many cases, the skin will be beautifully clear during this time, but for some, especially during the early stages of pregnancy, acne breakouts can be expected.
For acne, the basic recommendations would apply whether pregnant or not pregnant. For mild breakouts, it is best to use the BC Spa Facial regimen that is recommended by the Skin S.P.A. diagnostic tool. For more severe acne, it is recommended to use the Skinlogics Clear products. These products are not prescription strength and should be fine for use during pregnancy unless your physician has advised you otherwise.
Another common side-effect of fluctuating hormones is a condition called “melasma” or hyperpigmentation. I have written a blog on this topic, but basically speaking, melasma is the result of fluctuating hormones that manifests itself in patchy darkness around the mouth and jawline. This is often called “pregnancy mask”. For hyperpigmentation, prevention is the best medicine. ALWAYS wear sunscreen…ALWAYS!
That brings us to the topic of stretchmarks…the dreaded stretchmarks. They take just a few months to develop and in many cases they will stick with you for life. Like melasma, the best treatment for stretchmarks is a little precaution in the developmental stages of pregnancy.
More than half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks during their pregnancy. Stretch marks look like streaks on the surface of the skin, and may be vary in color depending on your natural skin color. Most lighter skinned women develop pinkish stretch marks, whereas darker skinned women tend to have stretch marks that are lighter than the surrounding skin.
Most women develop stretch marks on their abdomen during pregnancy, however it is also common to get stretch marks on the buttocks, hips, breasts and thighs. In some cases up to 90 percent of women have stretch marks on some part of their body as a result of pregnancy.
Stretch marks form when your skin is stretched rapidly as happens during pregnancy. Most women develop stretch marks during the later trimesters of pregnancy though some women start to develop them as soon as their bellies start growing.
Stretch marks are actually small tears that form in the tissue that supports the skin and helps it stretch. Stretch marks represent the tearing or separation of collagen from the skin when tearing occurs. Stretch marks are not harmful or painful and usually fade over time.
Normally the skin is elastic and capable of stretching quite a bit, however for some women the changes that occur during pregnancy are very drastic. These rapid fluctuations of weight and skin stretching can result in stretch marks.
Many women have had great results by applying an oil rich body moisturizer to the belly and breasts a few times each day to help keep the skin moist and supple during the developmental changes that will occur in your body. One product in particular that I would highly recommend is the BC Spa Body Ultra Rich Moisturizer. Rich in olive oil, this treatment will not only provide your skin with essential nutrients and oil rich hydration, it will also provide a comforting massage and you with the peace of mind in knowing that you have done all you can do to help prevent the formation of stretchmarks.
If you should get stretchmarks during your months of pregnancy, not to fear, BeautiControl can come to your rescue. BC Spa Solutions Scar, Stretchmark and Spidervein Solution is formulated to help skin that has been affected by stretchmarks. This product is very effective at treating both the texture and color of the stretchmarks and can be combined with Luxuries of the Sea Salt Glow for the body for enhanced benefits.
Need some help regaining that pre-baby shape? BC Spa Sculpt products will help.
Well, that’s it for today. I hope all of you have a fantastic week. Be sure to check back on Friday where I answer some of the weeks most frequently asked questions. Have a great one!
NOTE: although your comments are encouraged, questions posted in the “comments” section of the blog are not answered. Questions should be directed to product@beauticontrol.com for immediate response.
