About Acne Medications and Pregnancy

By Paul Favors

  • Overview

    When a woman is expecting, hormonal changes are apparent. These variations lead to the visibility of acne. While acne can easily be treated in non-pregnant women, some extra precautions must be taken into consideration by women during pregnancy.
  • The Facts

    When conceiving a child, the most significant factor is the health of the baby. Skin problems such as acne brought about by your body's state during pregnancy provide additional pressure. Pregnancy limits intake of some drugs that may affect the well-being of the unborn child. Despite the fact that many medications are disallowed during pregnancy, there are safe acne medications available for these cases. There are basically two ways to treat acne: topical creams and oral medicines.
  • Function

    Most internal acne medications work to diminish the quantity of acne bacteria in the body while decreasing inflammation. Some rare side effects associated with oral acne medicines include cardiac and liver toxicity, pancreatitis and respiratory infections. Topical acne medications generally work to unclog the pores of the oil glands and can be secured as an over-the-counter treatment. However, stronger topical medications are available by prescription.


  • Medications to Avoid

    Medications that should be avoided are those that have a direct impact on the baby. Most likely, medicines that are taken orally will bring harmful effects on the fetus--because everything that a pregnant mother intakes is shared with her child. There are also a few specific medications that pregnant women should avoid. According to studies, Tretinoin and Isotretinoin were proven to have caused malformations in babies. Tetracycline causes discoloration of teeth to children exposed to this drug past the fourth gestation month. Sodium sulfacetamide causes jaundice and anemia in newborn babies. Plus, salicylic acid, adapalene and hydrocortisone have not been sufficiently examined and studied to prove to be safe on pregnant women as an oral acne medication.
  • Warning

    While both topical creams and oral medications are available through a doctor or over the counter, the most important thing to consider is to achieve a solution that would prevent any risk to the baby. Since pregnancy is a delicate condition, it's imperative to remember that the lesser the contact and exposure of the medication to the baby, the more you will be sure of her safety. Be sure you read and understand labels on medicines and determine whether they are to be used topically or orally.
  • Safe Medications

    Though there are many medications to keep away from when curing pregnancy acne, medicines with safe ingredients when used topically are still accessible. Erythromycin is frequently prescribed to pregnant women. Erythromycin does not carry any risks of birth abnormalities. Benzoyl peroxide has not been proven to have any effects on the fetus, either. Clindamycin, on the other hand, can be taken orally and topically. It does not put babies at risk of forming abnormalities. Once acne breakouts happen to you, the best choice and decision to make is to consult a doctor. Taking risks on untested medicines is not an option for you to assess during pregnancy.
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