Dr. Al Romeo shared the good and bad news about skin medications during pregnancy.
Calls about exposures to isotretinoin, which people know as Accutane but is also Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Sotret, and Zenatane are very common. The use of isotretinoin in pill form for acne during pregnancy can lead to birth defects that affect the brain, ears, heart, and cause developmental delays. If you are using isotretinoin, the iPLEDGE program requires the use of two forms of contraceptives.
- Salicylic acid and glycolic acid face washes work by gently taking off a layer of skin cells (exfoliate), so they don`t get absorbed well. They can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide, used in topical acne treatments, can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They do not get absorbed well through the skin, don`t get into the bloodstream much and are not likely to be in the breastmilk. Even oral doses of clindamycin only get into the milk at about 1%.
- Retin-A or retinol cream used on the skin is not absorbed very well and can be used in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
For more answers about pregnancy, visit MotherToBaby.org.
