Chemical peels are popular cosmetic treatments that help in skin rejuvenation. However, the use of chemical peels during pregnancy may raise safety concerns. These may work effectively to reduce wrinkles, blemishes, and sun damage, and so are quite popular nowadays. Also, they are used to remove precancerous cell growths (1). Some chemical peels are not suitable for pregnant women (2). Hence, you should consult a doctor before getting the procedure done because the chemicals used in the process may get into the mother’s bloodstream and affect the growth of the baby. Some side effects of chemical peels on a pregnant woman include pigmentation and scarring. If you want to know more in detail about these peels, keep reading our post to know why they are unsafe during pregnancy and their side effects.
Why Are Chemical Peels Unsafe During Pregnancy?
Apart from the fact that it can make you look like a million dollars, chemical peels can cause a number of unpleasant side effects. Some strong chemical peels can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, enter your bloodstream and harm the baby in your womb too! Here are some harmful effects of a chemical peel:
1. May worsen pigmentation
During pregnancy, it is common to experience skin pigmentation. You can thank all those ramped up hormones for your skin issues. A chemical peel can make the condition worse and cause the pigments to become even darker.
2. Ineffective in many cases
One of the major reasons for staying away from chemical peels during pregnancy and lactation is that the peels just don’t work wonders on your skin thanks to all the hormones in your body! The peels may give temporary relief from problems such as pigmentation and acne, but as these problems are a result of pregnancy hormones, they recur pretty quickly (3). That is some good money down the drain!
3. Can cause miscarriage
Some chemical peels can cause a miscarriage if the product passes through your bloodstream and is toxic for the fetus (4). Some others require general anesthesia, which is not always safe during pregnancy
4. May trigger herpes
Some women can also experience an outbreak of viral infections, like herpes, after opting for a chemical peel.
5. Other risks
Some other risks synonymous with the use of chemical peels include:
Temporary redness of the skin. Scarring. In a rare case, it can adversely affect the heart, liver and kidney.
So, chemical peels look like a complete no-no for a pregnant woman! Don’t lose heart. Some chemical peels are safe for use during pregnancy!
Types Of Chemical Peels
Chemical peels come in a variety of forms. Some are strong and unsafe during pregnancy while you can give others a try.
1. Safe chemical peels during pregnancy
Light chemical peels are safe during pregnancy. These include alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic, lactic and fruit acids. You can safely opt for these peels and give your skin a makeover. The acid in these peels stay active for no more than five minutes and does not cause any harm to you or your precious baby. You can also use trichloro acetic acid peels to remove genital warts as they doesn’t penetrate the skin
2. Chemical peels to avoid during pregnancy
Deeper peels like phenol peels are strictly off limits for pregnant women. You should also avoid peels that contain salicylic acid (2). These strong chemicals can permeate your skin and adversely affect your unborn baby. The procedure to apply these peels requires anesthesia and many months for recovery. If you need a deep peel, opt for the procedure only after your baby’s first birthday.
