Pregnant women sometimes experience acne breakouts during pregnancy. The acne often disappears after the baby is born and your hormone levels return to normal. This is especially true if you have never experienced acne before being pregnant. This is largely due to raised androgen levels. Androgens are a hormone which prompts sebaceous glands to produce excess sebum. There is no way of predicting who will and who will not suffer from acne during pregnancy so it is important to know how to treat acne during pregnancy in a safe way for you and your unborn child.



A healthy cleanliness routine is vital to control the acne. Try to cleanse your face well twice a day but not more because this will strip the natural oils from your skin. Use a mild oil-free soap for this and plenty of water to make sure you rid your skin of all soap residue. Pat your skin dry rather than rubbing it. Exercise is good for encouraging circulation and a diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is beneficial. You should ask your doctor or midwife about medicated lotions or gels.

Some oral acne medications can be dangerous if you are pregnant so you should go for topical treatments instead rather than take any risk. If you use topical treatments, make sure they do not contain tretinoin. Any medications which contain retinoic acid are dangerous for the unborn baby and should be avoided. Retinoic acid can cause miscarriage or birth defects. Accutane, or isotretinoin, is hazardous for expectant mothers too because it can cause birth defects.

If you are trying to conceive, you should stop taking retinoic acid because it can cause birth defects in 40% of babies, even if you stop taking it a couple of months before becoming pregnant. It stays in your system for up to 3 months. If in doubt, it is best to use contraception whilst on a course of Accutane or similar and leave 3 months before attempting to become pregnant.

High levels of Vitamin A can also cause problems for your unborn child including brain malformations, learning difficulties, facial abnormalities and heart problems. Yellow, red and orange vegetables and fruits provide a safe level of Vitamin A.

Prescription antibiotic creams containing erythromycin or clindamycin are safe to use but avoid using those that contain tetracycline because it can cause tooth discoloration and bone growth retardation in your baby.

It is possible to use treatment for acne during pregnancy but it is best to check with your midwife or doctor which preparations are safe to use and which are not. Pregnancy should be a wonderful experience so it is not worth taking any unnecessary risks. After giving birth and finishing breastfeeding, if your acne is still there, you can try a stronger medication.

. Or visit for more tips