Skin Care Tips For Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be nine of the most exciting months of a woman's life. But, as anyone who is or has been pregnant knows, it can also feel like you spend the better part of those months learning what you can and cannot eat, breathe, and touch! Hopefully I can at least take some of the guesswork out of the skin care realm.

Consider these do and don'ts:

• Stop using retinoids (like Retin-A, Tazorac, or Differin, for example) and over-the-counter products with retinol. They are in the same family as Accutane, which you may already have been told to avoid.

• Salicylic acid is also not suitable for pregnant women, but can be safely substituted with lactic or glycolic acid, which work similarly. Remember, salicylic acid is a common ingredient in chemical peels as well as skin care products. MD Forte Cleanser III is a good option.

• It can be easy to equate "natural" with "harmless," but remember that certain supplements and herbs may also be unsuitable for pregnant women. The safety of many of them has not been studied in pregnant women. If you're taking any, discuss them with your doctor.

• Switch to physical (a.k.a. mineral) sunscreens, which remain on the surface of your skin and aren't absorbed into your system. (Physical sunscreens typically contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.) I love the Blue Lizard Suncream from Australia, which is available in many major U.S. chains.

• Many pregnant women experience acne, or increased acne, during pregnancy, as fluctuating hormones cause oil production to increase. But don't worry if your skin still seems altered post-pregnancy - it can take a few months for hormones to return to their pre-pregnancy normal, especially if you're breast-feeding. Ask your doctor to recommend a safe product to treat breakouts, and avoid self-treating with products you're not sure about (as many acne treatments contain salicylic acid and retinol).

• Pregnancy is associated with a form of hyperpigmentation called melasma - it's so common, in fact, that melasma is often called "the mask of pregnancy." Over-the-counter skin-lightening products with hydroquinone are safe, but many pregnant women prefer to avoid that ingredient (and the FDA is considering a ban, which might make it unavailable anyway!). I recommend DDF Intensive Holistic Lightener as a great hydroquinone-free option.

• Concerned about stretch marks? Moisturize three to four times a day with cocoa butter, shea butter, or almond/safflower oil. (Just on the tummy, though - those ingredients are too heavy for pregnant women's acne-prone facial skin.)

Pregnant women may develop a biotin deficiency which can lead to brittle nails. Discuss taking these supplements with your doctor. The daily U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 400 micrograms for adults, 500 micrograms for breastfeeding adult women, and 600 micrograms per day for pregnant adult women.

Finally, as a doctor myself, let me remind you that it's OK to ask questions - in fact, any good doctor will encourage it. When in doubt ... find out!

Wishing you great skin!

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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, " The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.

All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.

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