Is it safe to use retinol cream for pregnant women?

Like women in general, pregnant women also need a series of self-care products. However, you are required to be more observant in sorting out which skin care is allowed and not recommended for pregnant women. So, what about the use of products containing retinol for pregnant women, is it safe or not, huh?

What is the function of retinol in skin care products?

Retinol is a type of retinoid, and retinoid is a derivative of vitamin A. Well, basically, the intake of vitamin A that you get from various food sources consists of two types.

The first is retinoids, and the second is carotenoids. After entering the body, both are converted into retinol by the liver. Then lymphatic cells are responsible for transporting and circulating retinol substances throughout the body.

Retinol can also be contained in skin care products. There are various reasons why retinol is so popular with beauty activists.

The main function of retinol is to help accelerate the regeneration (renewal) process of dead skin cells. So by using a cream containing retinol, the dead skin cells will quickly peel off and are replaced by the growth of new skin cells.

Retinol is also believed to stimulate collagen production. On this basis, retinol is often present in various anti-aging or anti-aging products. In fact, retinol can also help disguise the appearance of wrinkles on the face, black spots, as well as make the skin texture smoother.

For people with acne prone, using skin care products containing retinol can also help reduce the chance of acne.

This is because retinol can remove bacteria and dirt that clog pores and trigger acne.

Can retinol products be used for pregnant women?

There are so many benefits of retinol cream that it might interest you to start trying it. Unfortunately, products containing retinol should not be used carelessly, especially for pregnant women.

A dermatologist in the United States, Deanne Robinson, MD, said some vitamin A derivatives should not be used for pregnant women. Starting from retinol, retin-A, retinoic acid (retinoic acid), tazaratene, to retinoids.

The reason is, retinol and various vitamin A derivatives are at risk of disrupting the development of the fetus in the womb, as well as causing defects in the baby's body at birth. Especially if pregnant women use creams that contain retinol excessively and for a long time.

Not much different, Joshua Zeichner MD, as an assistant lecturer in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, also supports this answer.

According to him, retinol, which is commonly used in anti-aging products, has the risk of causing problems with spinal and facial abnormalities in the developing fetus.

How to use skin care that is safe for pregnant women?

If you are a pregnant woman, and want to use products that contain retinol for anti-aging during pregnancy, don't give up just yet. As a solution, there are various alternative skin care products that are quite effective and you can try.

The aging process can be helped to slow down slowly with the help of antioxidants. So, you can use skin care products that contain antioxidants, for example vitamin C.

Use this antioxidant product according to its function, either in the morning or at night. Regular use of vitamin C will help stimulate collagen production in the skin, which can prevent signs of aging.

Includes fine lines on the face, wrinkles, dark spots, and so on. Don't forget, to be safer, it would be better to always ask your doctor before using skin care products during pregnancy.