Pregnancy changes skin in ways nobody warns you about, and the usual advice stops being safe overnight. This is also the one area where I will not be the final word — your doctor or midwife decides what is safe for you, and anything below is the general picture, not a clearance.
Stop these
- All retinoids — prescription and over-the-counter, including retinol, retinal and retinyl esters. This is the firmest line on the list.
- Oral acne medication of the retinoid family. If you are on it, speak to your doctor before anything else.
- High-strength salicylic acid and salicylic peels. Low concentrations in a rinse-off cleanser are generally considered fine, but ask.
- Hydroquinone — absorbed in significant amounts, and usually paused.
Generally considered fine
- Azelaic acid — often the most useful swap, since it helps both acne and pigment.
- Niacinamide.
- Vitamin C.
- Glycolic and lactic acid at everyday strengths.
- Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides.
- Mineral sunscreen — and this one matters more than usual, for the reason below.
The pigment problem
Melasma — brown patches across the cheeks, forehead and upper lip — is common in pregnancy and driven by hormones plus sun. The hormones you cannot change. The sun you can, and it is the difference between patches that fade afterwards and patches that stay for years.
Mineral sunscreen every single day, reapplied, plus a hat in strong sun. Heat alone can trigger it too, which is why it often worsens on holiday even with good sun protection.
Do not try to treat melasma aggressively while pregnant. Most of what works is off the table, and the irritation from trying makes pigment worse.
What else changes
Skin often becomes more sensitive, so products you tolerated for years may start to sting. Acne can appear or disappear, unpredictably. Many people become more reactive to fragrance specifically.
Breastfeeding is a separate question from pregnancy and generally less restrictive, but it is still a question for your doctor rather than for a label.
The practical approach for these months is the short routine: a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser, mineral sunscreen, and azelaic acid if you need an active. It is not the time to improve your skin. It is the time to keep it calm and protected, and pick up the rest afterwards.