Use of a topical acne cream during pregnancy should be done with caution and only on the advice of a medical practitioner. Although topical lotions and any skin cream used for treatment of acne are less absorbed by the body than those taken orally, the potential risk that these medications have on the unborn fetus must be weighed carefully before application.
During pregnancy, elevated hormone levels can bring a variety of skin changes, including troublesome acne. Since there are both topical as well as oral acne medications available aplenty, it is possible for a pregnant woman to be advised a combination of medications that is successful in treating the acne without putting the pregnancy at risk.
Studies Linked To Use Of Acne Creams In Pregnancy
Studies show that there is no case report of use of benzoyl peroxide cream linked to birth defects in pregnant women. Erythromycin is also used topically for acne, and studies indicate that this usage shows no significant risk to the fetus during pregnancy, as it is absorbed into the fetal bloodstream only minimally and is quickly metabolized.
Salicylic acid is also typically used in creams and lotions to treat acne, warts and other dermatological problems, but there are no well-defined investigations specifically aimed at evaluating the risk of the use of topical salicylic acid in pregnancy. Research on pregnant women exposed to clindamycin throughout pregnancy did not show an increased risk for major malformations to the fetus.
Prescription creams containing Tretinoin that are applied to the skin to treat acne, carry warnings of use for women who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy. The risk of the use of Hydrocortisone to treat acne and other dermatologic conditions in pregnant women is also not clearly defined.
