Pregnancy is a time when many women are alarmed by the sudden and drastic changes in their bodies1. Feeling strange during this period is more than common, but some women don’t see these changes as just a natural process and end up thinking that they need to do something to “improve their appearance”. And this sort of desperation sometimes leads them to undergo not very recommended treatments, such as using products containing retinoic acid. Although this goes unnoticed by many, it can bring negative consequences for both mother and baby, which is why you need to know exactly what it is before doing any procedures of the kind.

What is retinoic acid?

Retinoic acid2 is a substance directly derived from vitamin A and is one of the most studied types of acids for the treatment of aging. To understand its effects and why retinoic acid during pregnancy is not recommended, we first have to understand the types of aging and how they are affected by this compound. There are basically two types of aging that can be treated with this product:

  • Intrinsic – The type of natural aging caused by the passage of time, which affects people’s skin at different stages of life.
  • Extrinsic – Aging caused by factors external to the body itself, such as excessive sun exposure.

By acting against such a common problem, products based on retinoic acid have gained popularity and various treatments are derived from it, such as chemical peeling, for example. These products are recommended for several cases and can even be beneficial for some women. However, caution must be taken when applying retinoic acid during pregnancy.

The use of cosmetic products containing retinoic acid is not recommended during pregnancy.

Why shouldn’t you use retinoic acid during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, you must be very careful about the products you use, as many can be harmful to the health of both the woman and the baby. This is the case with retinoic acid, which can cause various problems during pregnancy that may affect the baby’s life forever. There are cases where women undergoing treatment with this product discover they are pregnant, which causes a lot of fear and worry. And not without reason, since the product can indeed cause significant harm to the baby. On the other hand, it is never possible to be absolutely certain that the baby has actually suffered the consequences of retinoic acid. Therefore, the best thing to do at this point is to immediately stop the treatment and undergo the necessary tests to check the health of both mother and baby. If the person used the acid only a few times, it is likely that the fetus did not suffer any consequences and that the pregnancy will proceed normally.

Consequences of using retinoic acid during pregnancy

The use of retinoic acid during pregnancy can harm both the woman and the baby, but it is often worse for the child. Among the main consequences of using these products are:

  • Fetal malformation
  • Pregnancy complications

Fetal malformation

One of the worst effects that using retinoic acid during pregnancy can have is undoubtedly the malformation of a fetus. This type of acid does not usually have such severe consequences as the death of the baby, but the malformation of limbs such as arms, legs, and even some internal organs can affect the baby for their entire life.

Pregnancy complications

The main complications3 that can arise due to the use of retinoic acid during pregnancy are:

Because there are so many health risks, it is important that if a woman has had contact with this type of product during pregnancy, she should have regular checkups to ensure that nothing is compromising the pregnancy. There are many precautions that need to be taken during a baby’s gestation. Things most people don’t even think of can become a big problem due to aesthetic concerns. It’s not that aesthetics aren’t important. They help you feel good about your own body and also contribute to health. However, nothing should be done without consulting a professional or thoroughly researching the subject first. So, no matter the woman’s intention when undergoing these procedures, extra caution must be taken when pregnant. This way, neither the mother’s health nor the baby’s will be harmed. See also: Can Pregnant Women Get a Hair Relaxer? – Answering Questions Photo: Zenspa1