Look on the ingredient list of many of your beauty products and you'll likely find a slew of chemicals that end in -paraben, such as methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, etc. These are all preservatives that prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in everything from lotions to mascara. However, Anate Brauer, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Greenwich Fertility and IVF Centers and assistant professor of OB/GYN at NYU School of Medicine, says that these chemicals have weakly estrogenic properties that have been linked to potential growth issues in male fetuses. "While it's almost impossible to completely avoid parabens altogether throughout pregnancy, it's reasonable to limit them," she says. "Since controversy over the preservative has increased in recent years, many products, which are 'paraben-free' are now labeled as such."
This ingredient, mainly found in beauty products and used to help stabilize the formula, has been linked to everything from liver, kidney and lung conditions to reproductive issues, says Engelman. It's best to avoid phthalates when possible, especially during pregnancy, since they have also been linked to undescended testicles and hypospadias, birth defects and lifelong reproductive problems in both male and female babies, according to Ross.
Look on the back of every shampoo and body wash you own and you'll likely find this unsuspecting chemical, which acts as a foaming agent in many soaps and washes. According to Engelman, the issue with sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is the level of concentration — it can be too irritating by cosmetic standards. "Our body is not able to break this chemical down and with prolonged exposure, it can cause issues with the nervous system and kidney and liver function," she says. "If ingested, it can cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea." Some SLS-free shampoos to use through pregnancy include Ouai Repair Shampoo, $28, Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo, $11.49 and Aveeno Pure Renewal, $5.99.
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Retinoids
These impressive, topical anti-wrinkle agents, which are vitamers of vitamin A, are widely used in skin care products of all sorts, however, they are not recommended for use during pregnancy. In fact, pregnant women should avoid anything with vitamin A derivatives, such as Retin A (tretinoin), retinol or retinoic acid, according to Anna Guanche, MD, dermatologist and founder of the Bella Skin Institute, as studies have shown it may be harmful to the developing fetus. "This also includes the oral form, isotretinoin (formally known as Accutane), which is known to cause birth defects in pregnant women," she adds.
Beta hydroxy acids, such as salicylic acid and alpha hydroxy acids, are commonly found in topical preparations for acne and anti-aging. They should not be used during pregnancy, according to Brauer since salicylic acid in its oral form has been shown to cause potential birth defects and pregnancy complications. "While using low dose salicylic acid preparations sparingly is likely not harmful to a pregnancy, most doctors recommend avoiding it all together since its use is elective and for cosmetic reason," she adds.
