Beauty Treatments to Avoid During Pregnancy

As if it's not hard enough dealing with the changes that occur during pregnancy; the hormonal shifts, mood swings, cravings, bloating, weight gain, morning sickness, and general aches and pains; you also have to face the fact that you should probably change up your entire beauty routine in order to make it safer for your baby. This may sound like a real pain, but the truth is that it could be a lot better for you in the long run and you may just find some products and procedures that are safer and healthier for your long-term lifestyle. So here are just a few beauty treatments you'll want to avoid during pregnancy (and perhaps beyond).


Most women know that they're supposed to stay away from the salon, or at least the hair color, relaxers, and other chemical treatments that they get there. And this brings up the first major rule of avoidance. In general, you want to steer clear of products that include a lot of synthetic chemicals. For the average adult these products are relatively harmless. I say "relatively" because the truth is that they are still toxic. It's just that our immune systems are better able to deal with the side-effects, whereas infants, for example, would be harmed by much smaller doses. It is for this reason that pregnant women often start reading labels and seeing just what it is they're applying to their skin, breathing in, and even ingesting. And many moms-to-be choose to go organic, at least with their beauty products (if not the contents of their fridge and pantry).

Of course, it's not always easy (or cheap) to find organic beauty products, but you'll want to at least check labels and avoid shampoos, lotions, and other products that contain tons of chemicals. Your best bet is to seek out products with the shortest list of ingredients and look for those that eschew fragrances and chemicals like phthalates that are known to be harmful. You can also use the sniff test; if the product you're considering has a strong smell (whether chemical or fragrant), put it back on the shelf and look for something else. A couple of good examples of this are depilatory creams and spray-on tanners. They all smell awful (or at the very least they have a strong odor). And it's a good idea to avoid them, at least during pregnancy.

Unfortunately, you'll also have to skip the nail salon (just think about how those places smell - there are tons of chemicals involved). And you may also want to talk to your doctor or dermatologist about your skincare routine, especially if it involves prescriptions like Accutane or tetracycline (which are known to cause birth defects). You might read all kinds of reports about things you should avoid when pregnant, especially if you go for the green or wise living journal type of reading. And while you don't have to follow every piece of advice you receive on the topic, there are certainly beauty treatments and products you'll want to avoid while pregnant. The best thing you can do is speak with your doctor to make sure that you're aware of the products that could be the worst for you and your baby, as well as those parts of your routine that are likely safe to continue.

(Guest Post by Carol)