MDacne
Acne breakouts in pregnancy are quite common. Unfortunately, the number of effective treatments that can be offered to pregnant women is limited.
What is pregnancy acne and what causes it to occur?
Hormones are the leading cause of pregnancy acne. There is a significant increase in progesterone during pregnancy, the hormone that helps line the uterus and prepare for the egg. The substantial rise in progesterone causes an increase in the production of sebum in the skin oil glands. This increase in the production of sebum increases the risk of clogged pores and acne breakouts. The progesterone levels will peak in the third trimester, leading to more acne immediately after you give birth. (postpartum acne). Women with acne before the pregnancy and women with PCO have a higher chance of having acne during pregnancy and immediately after.
How long does pregnancy acne typically last?
After giving birth, the progesterone levels decrease, causing the postpartum acne to calm down at around 6-8 weeks.
Is there anything an individual can do to treat acne in pregnancy?
In general, over-the-counter acne treatments contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide in the third trimester of pregnancy and during breastfeeding. Treatment with blue light (acne phototherapy) can be a safe addition to these topical treatments. In more severe cases, your dermatologist can consider adding oral antibiotics (erythromycin) to your routine.
What is the FDA Pregnancy and breastfeeding Drug Safety classification?
In the past, the FDA classified the risk of medications by letters: A, B, C, D, X and N. In the new 2015 Pregnancy and Lactation Labelling Rule, FDA classifies medications into just three safety categories 'not safe in pregnancy' and 'uncertain (safety in pregnancy).
Which topical and systemic acne treatment can be used in pregnant women?
In practice, most Dermatologists regard the older categories, B and C, as a potential treatment for acne in pregnant and breastfeeding women.
What is the Category B Pregnancy and breastfeeding Drug Safety classification?
Category B medication is a medication for which the controlled studies on animals in reproduction did not indicate the risk to the fetus.
No adequate and well-controlled studies were done on pregnant women. Unfortunately, the antiacne efficacy of the acne medications in this class, azelaic acid, clindamycin, and erythromycin, is very low.
What is the Category C Pregnancy and breastfeeding Drug Safety classification?
Category C is defined as No adequate and well-controlled studies done on pregnant women. Studies on animals show an adverse effect and toxicity on the fetus. Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. Most dermatologists believe that that Category C antiacne medications can be used in small amounts in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
The antiacne medications in category C are:
Benzoyl peroxide – Systemic absorption is minimal, and benzoyl peroxide is metabolized to benzoic acid (a food additive) in the skin. Most dermatologists believe that topical 2.5% creams with benzoyl peroxide are acceptable for use during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Salicylic acid – Low-dose aspirin is used to treat preeclampsia. The key in acne is to use low concentrations over limited body surface areas. Small amounts applied to the skin—such as a toner or wash with no more than 2% salicylic acid used once or twice a day—are considered likely safe, but there may be more of a concern when salicylic acid is used in higher concentrations, such as in peels, and/or is used over large areas of the body.
Which topical acne medications should NEVER be used in pregnancy?
Topical retinoids carry warnings stating that it is not known if these medications can adversely affect a developing fetus or child that is being breastfed and thus should be avoided in patients who may be pregnant or breastfeeding. With tretinoin and adapalene (the main ingredient in Differin, Epiduo, and Epiduo Forte), there have been cases of cerebral anomalies and anophthalmia with agenesis of the optic chiasma, respectively. Another retinoid, Tazarotene, is also contraindicated in pregnancy.
Are oral medications safe for acne treatment in pregnancy?
Oral medications should not be used for acne in the first trimester of pregnancy. Category B systemic medications that have been used safely in pregnant patients with acne include cephalexin, amoxicillin, azithromycin, and erythromycin. Of these antibiotics, erythromycin seems to be the safest. A low dose of Systemic prednisone (Category C) can be considered for patients with severe acne and/or scarring. Most patients do well with 0.5 mg/kg for a duration of a few weeks. Prednisone can be combined with a systemic antibiotic.
Which oral acne medications should NEVER be used in pregnancy?
Isotretinoin should NEVER be used in pregnancy. Is there a safe treatment for moderate and severe acne in pregnancy?
In conclusion:
There are a few safe treatments that you can use during pregnancy. The ones people will probably feel most comfortable with are low percent, topical benzoyl peroxide, low percent, topical salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. As any topically applied product may be absorbed into the body in small amounts, pregnant women minimize the use of any topical medication to only the problem areas of their face. Another safe option to consider in a pregnant woman is office-based blue light acne phototherapy. This type of treatment has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Read more:
Treatment of Acne in the Pregnant Patient.
The best treatment for post-partum hair loss.
Risk Factors (A, B, C, D, X) have been assigned to all drugs based on the level of risk
the drug poses to the fetus.
Category A: Controlled studies in women fail to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester (and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters), and the possibility of fetal harm appears remote. Category B: Either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a fetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women or animal-reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect (other than a decrease in fertility) that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the first trimester (and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters). Category C: Either studies in animals have revealed adverse effects on the fetus (teratogenic or embryocidal, or other) and there are no controlled studies in women or studies in women and animals are not available. Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Category D: There is positive evidence of human fetal risk, but the benefits from use in pregnant women may be acceptable despite the risk (e.g., if the drug is needed in a life-threatening situation or for a serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective). Category X: Studies in animals or human beings have demonstrated fetal abnormalities, or there is evidence of fetal risk based on human experience or both, and the risk of the use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweighs any possible benefit. The drug is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant.
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