Pregnancy Acne: Safe Skincare Ingredients to Use (and What to Avoid)
Acne breakouts during pregnancy can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter if you’ve battled acne your entire life or haven’t seen a zit in years.
When you are pregnant, an increase in hormones causes your skin to produce more sebum. This increased sebum leads to oiliness that eventually clogs your pores, leading to inflammation and breakouts. A surge in hormones typically occurs around 6 weeks into pregnancy and throughout the first trimester. Women who tend to break out during their menstrual cycle are more likely to have acne breakouts during their pregnancy.
Is Pregnancy Acne Different from Normal Acne?
The short answer is no. Pregnancy acne is no different from normal acne. Although the cause of blocked pores might change, acne is still a result of bacteria build-up and inflammation.
However, pregnancy acne can be harder to treat. Women are advised to watch what they eat during pregnancy, as the food they consume can affect the baby’s development. In the same vein, whatever products you apply can also be absorbed into the skin and affect your baby. Some skincare ingredients can potentially cause birth defects and should be avoided while you are pregnant. We detail which acne treatments all pregnant mothers should avoid below.
Acne Treatments to Avoid During Pregnancy
Acne treatments can range from prescription acne medication to over-the-counter (OTC) chemical spot treatments. Before starting any treatment, it is important to consult your doctor for advice on what is safe for you. If unsure, bring the skincare products you are planning to use so your doctor can look over the ingredients. It’s also important to note that the following treatments are also off-limits if you are trying to conceive.
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin is a retinoid prescribed in the form of oral medication. Often used to treat severe nodular acne that is not responsive to other forms of treatments, isotretinoin reduces sebum production by decreasing the size and activity of your sebaceous glands. Isotretinoin can cause miscarriage, premature birth or birth defects when taken at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Doctors will not prescribe it as an acne treatment to pregnant women or women looking to conceive.
Topical Retinol and Retinoids
Topical retinol and retinoids help unclog pores by speeding up your cell turnover rate. A form of vitamin A, they can be found prescription creams and OTC skincare products like serums or overnight creams. Experts suggest pregnant women avoid applying vitamin-A based formulations to prevent pregnancy complications.
Oral Tetracyclines
Tetracyclines are antibiotics that slow the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Its use can inhibit your baby’s bone growth and discolour their teeth.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy is used to treat acne during menstrual cycles by controlling fluctuating hormones. It works by taking pills to suppress androgens – a male hormone found in both men and women that can cause increased sebum production. Like all the other treatments on this list, they should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of birth defects.
Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicyclic Acid
There are differing reports on whether these common OTC anti-acne ingredients are safe for pregnant women to use. Studies debate between whether to avoid them completely or allow them in limited amounts. We recommend erring on the side of caution and seek out other acne treatment methods while you are pregnant. Having gone through 5 pregnancies with only 2 successfully carried to term, I would urge you to reconsider using these ingredients, especially when there are safer ingredients that you can try first.
Chemical Sunscreens like Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Octisalate
Studies have detected some chemical sunscreen ingredients in blood plasma, amniotic fluid, and breast milk, showing that they can be absorbed into the body. While there is currently no evidence that these ingredients harm a developing foetus, many expectant mothers choose to take a precautionary approach and opt for pure mineral sunscreens instead. Skinlycious’ sunscreen uses 100% non-nano mineral UV filters for effective broad-spectrum protection with minimal systemic absorption.
Managing Pregnancy Acne Safely
The good news is that our whole range is safe to use during pregnancy — with just one exception: we recommend skipping the Glow Exfoliant, as it contains Salicylic Acid. While it’s applied topically in small amounts, some studies suggest caution during pregnancy. Best to check with your gynaecologist if you’re unsure.
For everything else, consistency is your best friend. Keep your skin clean, avoid touching your face, and steer clear of comedogenic or greasy products that clog pores. Harsh scrubs and astringents are a no too — they strip your skin barrier and push sebum production into overdrive, which worsens breakouts.
When it comes to clearing existing acne, most OTC products don’t clearly state whether they’re pregnancy-safe, so always check the ingredients. Our Clarifying Serum is a safe and effective option — it combines Stabilised Vitamin C and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), both clinically shown to reduce acne, without any peeling or dryness. It’s your pregnancy-safe spot corrector.
Here’s the full pregnancy-safe routine we recommend:
All of these products are free from the ingredients flagged as unsafe during pregnancy, so you can focus on glowing — not guessing.
About the Author
Jasmine Kang
Founder of Skinlycious - a skincare brand built specially for acne-prone, oily-prone, and sensitive skin. A mompreneur with a Biomedical Science degree and a Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation, Jasmine spent 14 years fighting acne and another 10 years refining her formulas alongside fellow acne fighters to perfect the Skinlycious range.
Her greatest joy? Helping people get clear, smooth and glowing skin and regain confidence through her Match+Balance System™.
