Is your skincare pregnancy-safe?

The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy, and lists over-the-counter retinol among the ingredients to avoid. ACOG also advises avoiding topical retinoids and reading labels, because some over-the-counter products contain them.

Sources split. MotherSafe (Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney) says the small amounts of vitamin A in cosmetics are acceptable. We show the more cautious AAD and ACOG advice.

Breastfeeding: Cleveland Clinic says providers believe the risk to breastfed babies from topical retinoids is low, since little is absorbed. Keep it off your breasts and ask your provider.

A retinoid you can buy without a prescription. The AAD says most experts recommend stopping it during pregnancy. Its Drug Facts label says to ask a doctor before use if you’re pregnant, and to stop and ask a doctor if you become pregnant.

Breastfeeding: Its Drug Facts label says to ask a doctor before use if you’re breast-feeding.

The AAD says most experts recommend stopping it during pregnancy. Its FDA label says to use it in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. MotherToBaby says studies haven’t found more birth defects with proper use on the skin, but that the safest approach may be to avoid it.

Breastfeeding: MotherToBaby says it hasn’t been studied in breastfeeding, but so little reaches your body that the amount in milk would probably be small. Its label advises caution.

Its FDA label says it is contraindicated in pregnancy, because retinoids may cause fetal harm, and asks for a negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks before starting. The AAD lists it with the acne medicines never to take during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding: Its label says there is no information on tazarotene in breast milk. A 2026 review, as summarized in Dermatology Times, says it’s avoided while breastfeeding too.

The AAD says it’s generally considered safe when used for a limited time, and to talk with your OB-GYN or dermatologist before using it. ACOG lists over-the-counter salicylic acid among the acne products that can be used. A 2016 review says the risk is low if use is limited to small areas for a short time. US over-the-counter acne products contain 0.5% to 2% salicylic acid (FDA acne monograph).

Breastfeeding: MotherToBaby says most over-the-counter acne treatments haven’t been well studied in breastfeeding, that the amount in milk is likely low, and not to apply them to the nipple or areola.

The AAD lists salicylic acid at high doses (greater than 2%) among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy and to discuss with your dermatologist. For peels, InfantRisk Center says salicylic acid itself appears safe, but that because peels mix ingredients at unknown strengths, it’s best to postpone chemical peels until after delivery. A 2026 review, as summarized in Dermatology Times, says salicylic acid peels are avoided during pregnancy, especially at higher strengths.

The AAD says experts consider it safe in limited amounts, and to check with your OB-GYN or dermatologist before using it. ACOG lists it among the over-the-counter acne products that can be used, and reviews in 2016 and 2024 call it safe in pregnancy.

Breastfeeding: A 2026 review, as summarized in Dermatology Times, calls it acceptable while breastfeeding. MotherToBaby says not to apply acne treatments to the nipple or areola.

The AAD says it’s thought to be safe to use during pregnancy, and animal studies haven’t shown birth defects. ACOG lists it among the over-the-counter products that can be used, and a 2023 American Family Physician review calls it a preferred, safe option. The Azelex prescription label says to use it during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Breastfeeding: Its label says less than 4% is absorbed, so it isn’t expected to change azelaic acid levels in breast milk much. A 2026 review, as summarized in Dermatology Times, calls it acceptable while breastfeeding.

The AAD says applying it during pregnancy is thought to be safe, but to check with your obstetrician or dermatologist first. A 2016 review calls short-term use safe and says chronic use hasn’t been studied.

ACOG lists over-the-counter glycolic acid among the products that can be used, and a dermatologist in the AAD’s pregnancy guide suggests it at night. But InfantRisk Center says it’s best to avoid glycolic acid until more research is done, and a 2026 review, as summarized in Dermatology Times, says low-strength glycolic or lactic acid may be used with caution.

Sources split. We show the cautious stamp. Your OB-GYN can tell you which advice fits you.

MotherToBaby lists vitamin C products among those with fewer concerns in most cases, and a 2026 review, as summarized in Dermatology Times, calls vitamin C acceptable during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A dermatologist in the AAD’s pregnancy guide suggests it in the morning.

Breastfeeding: The same review summary calls it acceptable while breastfeeding.

A form of vitamin B3. The only source we found on niacinamide in pregnancy is a news summary, in Dermatology Times, of a 2026 review: it says niacinamide is considered acceptable during pregnancy and breastfeeding. We found no study of niacinamide on skin in pregnancy, and the AAD, MotherToBaby, InfantRisk and MotherSafe pages we read don’t mention it. With this little to go on, we show the cautious stamp: ask your OB-GYN.

Breastfeeding: The same review summary calls it acceptable while breastfeeding.

Cleveland Clinic says reactions are rare and that it’s safe to use if you’re pregnant or nursing. The AAD and ACOG pages don’t mention it.

Breastfeeding: Cleveland Clinic says it’s safe to use if you’re nursing.

The AAD lists it among the ingredients to avoid during pregnancy. A large share gets into the body: InfantRisk Center puts it at 30 to 40 percent after use on the skin.

Breastfeeding: MotherSafe says to avoid it while breastfeeding too, because absorption is high.

The AAD suggests a physical sunscreen with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both during pregnancy, to avoid irritation. MotherToBaby says these minerals aren’t absorbed through the skin, and that a lotion is a better pick than a spray. The FDA proposes both as safe and effective.

Breastfeeding: MotherSafe says sunscreens don’t pose a risk to breastfeeding women.

The FDA says 12 of these filters need more data before it can call them safe and effective, and that this is not a finding that they’re unsafe. It encourages anyone worried about using sunscreen while pregnant to ask their health care professional. MotherToBaby says they aren’t known to harm a pregnancy but haven’t been studied well. Don’t skip sunscreen: the AAD’s pick for pregnancy is a mineral one.

Sources split. MotherSafe says sunscreens don’t pose a risk in pregnancy. We show the more cautious stamp.

Breastfeeding: MotherSafe says sunscreens don’t pose a risk to breastfeeding women.

The AAD lists these four parabens among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy, because some are safe only in limited amounts or haven’t been studied enough. The FDA says it has no information showing that parabens as used in cosmetics affect human health.

The AAD lists them among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy. The FDA says it has no evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a safety risk, and that diethyl phthalate is the only one still commonly used.

The AAD names rosemary, basil, jasmine and sage essential oils among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy and to discuss with your dermatologist.

The AAD lists triclosan among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy and to discuss with your dermatologist.

The AAD lists phenol among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy and to discuss with your dermatologist. Deep phenol peels are another matter: a 2026 review, as summarized in Dermatology Times, says to avoid them during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding: The same review summary says to avoid deep phenol peels while breastfeeding.

The AAD lists it among the acne medicines never to take during pregnancy, because it can cause serious birth defects: if you’re pregnant, stop it immediately. ACOG says it should not be used during pregnancy.

The AAD lists it with isotretinoin and tazarotene as acne medicines that can cause serious birth defects: if you’re pregnant, stop it immediately.

The AAD lists tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, types of antibiotics, among the ingredients that can put your baby at risk of birth defects and should not be used during pregnancy. Its page on acne in pregnancy says to stop taking them by your 15th week of pregnancy. InfantRisk Center says oral tetracyclines are contraindicated during pregnancy because they may hold back bone growth.

The AAD lists finasteride, which treats hair loss, among the ingredients that can put your baby at risk of birth defects and should not be used during pregnancy.

The AAD lists 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy cream used to treat skin cancer, among the ingredients that can put your baby at risk of birth defects and should not be used during pregnancy.