Now that you are done with pregnancy, are you wondering about introducing your favorite pre-pregnancy creams to your skincare routine?
While we know how chemicals (and now, even microplastics!) can pass through the placenta to the baby, what about through the breast milk?
Read on for more information on nursing-safe skincare.
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How does nursing skincare differ from pregnancy skincare?
The good news is that skincare for nursing moms is much less restrictive than pregnancy skincare. Now that your baby is out, the list of products you can use is much more flexible.
Chemicals, however, still pass from your breastmilk to your baby, and thus the restrictions.
Nearly all medication taken orally transfers to breastmilk in varying degrees, depending on its pharmacological profile. Generally speaking, topical preparations like cream are expected to have lower concentrations than oral ones.
Skincare ingredients to avoid while nursing.
Retinoids-oral and topical.
It is unknown how much topically applied retinoids can pass into breast milk. Because this powerful ingredient has been linked to birth defects in babies when used during pregnancy, it is best avoided while nursing.
Lately, Bakuchiol has exploded in the skincare market as a safe pregnancy and nursing alternative to retinoids. Should it be part of your skincare routine for nursing moms?
Here is more about it:
Safety Profile of Bakuchiol in Pregnancy & Nursing.
The label will read:
Retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, retinyl ester, retinaldehyde, granactive retinoid, adapalene, tazarotene.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone, contraindicated in pregnancy, is not contraindicated during nursing per se, but its long-term use during nursing is not recommended as a routine. At present, there is no data available about its effects on nursing. This can be disappointing for mothers suffering from melasma (pregnancy-induced hyperpigmentation) as hydroquinone is one of the first-line drugs for treating it. However, there are other nursing-safe skincare options available.
Discuss it with your doctor if you still feel it is an option.
Here is more information on managing melasma or pregnancy-induced hyperpigmentation:
Melasma in Pregnancy: Causes & Prevention.
Pregnancy & Nursing Safe Melasma Treatment.
Top 10 Pregnancy & Lactation Safe Sunscreens for Melasma & Hyperpigmentation.
The label will read:
Hydroquinone.
Hemp or Cannabis based skincare.
I do not recommend using any topical hemp or cannabis-based product during pregnancy or nursing. Unless there is more information available, the risk-benefit ratio is not justifiable.
The FDA is unequivocal in stating that “FDA strongly advises against the use of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.”
The label will read:
Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Hemp Extract Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Whole Plant Hemp) Extract, Cannabis Sativa L. (Hemp) Stalk Oil, Hemp Extract (Dried Aerial Parts), Phytocannabinoid-Rich Hemp Extract, Hemp-Derived CBD Oil, Cannabis Sativa Extract.
Others
Ingredients like phthalates, chemical sunscreens, parabens, and formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers are contraindicated in pregnancy.
We do not have enough information about how much of these get into breast milk and, thus, whether they can be considered part of nursing-safe skincare.
However, these ingredients are so toxic that it is best to avoid them even when you are not pregnant or nursing—an exception being paraben. I use the word exception here as a school of thought says parabens have been unjustly vilified.
Here are resources about the above ingredients:
Are Parabens in Cosmetics Safe to Use?
Phthalates
Chemical Sunscreens
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde Releasers
Bonus content:
– If, like me, you love perfumes but are concerned about the presence of toxic chemicals like phthalates and parabens in them, here is a Guide to Phthalate & Paraben Free Perfumes
– I struggled with my milk supply, and these were so addictive!
Finding Lactation Cookies- Aussie Bites From Costco.
Precautions while using nursing-safe skincare products.
- Unless it is breastfeeding-friendly, keep your skincare product away from your breasts and nipples.
- Remember that any product you apply to your skin can transfer to the baby even while you play and interact with your baby. A baby’s skin is very delicate and can react adversely to various chemicals in the product. For example, salicylic acid. While it may work wonders for your acne, it can irritate and dry your baby’s delicate skin.
The thing to really worry about? Your medications.
You should look into the medication you are taking. It is estimated that 96% of breastfeeding women use one or more medications. How much of the medication consumed reaches the breast milk depends on how the drug is metabolized and excreted from your body and other factors specific to the medicine, like its weight, protein binding capacity, pH, and lipophilicity.
LactMed- The Drugs & Lactation Database contains relevant information on drugs and other chemicals lactating moms are exposed to and the possible effects it may have on the infant.
This database also provides alternatives to the drugs, where applicable. All the data is peer-reviewed for accuracy and collated from scientific literature.
You can also refer to the FDA Drug Categories for Drug Safety in Pregnancy & Nursing.
Trivia
Breastfeeding benefits both the baby and the mother.
It has been shown to reduce the risk of diseases in the baby, such as childhood leukemia, hypertension, necrotizing enterocolitis, ear infections, respiratory diseases like asthma and respiratory infections, sudden infant death syndrome, diabetes, and dermatitis.
Neurological benefits include better memory, early language and motor skills, and higher IQ.
For the mother, it leads to reduced postpartum bleeding and faster uterine involution. It may also lead to more rapid weight loss and a reduction in postpartum depression risk. Breastfeeding leads to lower rates of obesity, type II diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and breast and ovarian cancer.
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