Last updated: 24 June 2024
Often in pregnancy you are unable to use/have your regular skin care & skin treatments. Then, we you have made it through those months of pregnancy, you often feel like your glow is missing! You will have to put a hold on a lot of active treatments during your pregnancy and are wanting to get back to your skin care management plan. You’re feeling & looking tired and your is dull perhaps? It is a common story. But we all want to do what’s safe for ourselves, our developing baby and our new precious bundle. Here we are addressing what procedures are ok for pregnancy and breast feeding and what are not.
Very few scientific studies have been conducted looking at this area. Of course, what we are to be cautious about with breast feeding, is the risk of chemicals or medications being absorbed into the mother’s system and then into breast milk. Secondly, if they do follow this path, can they be harmful to a baby’s development?
There has been some published information about this topic. Dermatological Surgery Magazine.
(2013 – “Safety of cosmetic dermatological procedure during pregnancy and International Journal of Women’s Dermatology (2107 – A review of safety of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and lactation.”) are examples. They concluded that most cosmetic procedures are safe to use during breast feeding as there is little evidence for significant systemic absorption of the products used. Below we have discussed different treatments more specifically.
It is often recommended to wait until you are out of your 1st trimester before having skin treatments that are allowed during pregnancy. Please always let your therapist know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Enzyme Facials
Pregnancy – YES – they are suitable BUT adjustments of actives need to be made – there are some topical ingredients that are not recommended to use in pregnancy. Other kinds of chemical peels like Jessner and TCA peels with high concentrations of salicylic acid are not recommended in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding – In breast feeding, only very deep chemical peels might be issue with absorption of the chemicals/ingredients. Enzyme Facials with superficial exfoliation are not in this category. They are a perfect way to kick start that post pregnancy glowing skin.
Treatments for Facial Contouring, Enhancement + Wrinkle Concerns
Pregnancy – NO – We would not recommend these treatments in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding – In Australia we are not allowed to mention some products as they are Schedule 4 prescription medications. Breastfeeding mums can do a “pump and dump “technique. This means using a breast pump to clear breast milk in the 24 hours post treatment and dump this milk. (do not use for feeding bub). Although there are uncommon and rare emergency side effects they may need management. Consultations are highly recommended if considering these treatments.
Body Sculpting – TruSculpt iD
Pregnancy – NO – We would not recommend it as your weight will fluctuate during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding – YES – Non – invasive fat removal like TruSculpt iD on areas of the body not involving the breast are fine to do while breast feeding. Although it would make sense to wait until your weight had stabilised after pregnancy. As we know there is often a period of weight loss naturally with breast feeding after pregnancy. After this period, TruSculpt iD can be a great method of trimming off new stubborn fat areas.
Laser and Light
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding – YES – as long as no anaesthetic is used!
The wavelength of light used for skin treatments is not deep enough to affect the milk ducts, and in any case, would only affect the tissues directly under the area being treated. LED light can be used to treat mastitis and sore nipples. It is true that Cold Laser (Low Intensity Laser Therapy) is different in this way and can penetrate deeply when used on setting for treating deeper muscular, bone or ligament concerns. However, if not used over the breast in these cases, would not reach the ducts.
A recent systematic review of all the available scientific literature concluded that the use of lasers and light therapy- including BBL, tattoo removal, vascular, pigmentation and ablative lasers are safe to use on the skin even during pregnancy. (“Utilisation of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Foetal Effects Reported from 1960 – 2017.”- Dermatological Surgery Magazine 2017)
Of course, just like the case with the treatment of fat, some skin conditions will settle or change in the months after pregnancy, so it’s worth waiting till hormones are back to normal and period resume (eg. Melasma and facial hair growth).
The added issue with some laser treatments is the need for anaesthetic – creams, topically or injected. We do know that these can be absorbed systemically and possibly cross into breast milk. Also, there is a small risk of reactions to anaesthetic, which may require medical management. As a result, we would not use these products in pregnancy and breast feeding where possible.
Microneedling
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding – YES – Although the issues of anaesthetic as discussed in the laser and light section relate to microneedling also. So, we would recommend only needling procedures that are anaesthetic free.