pregnancy news
a healthy glow Expecting moms may want to indulge in a little beauty therapy, but
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our back aches, your feet are swollen, and you’ve pulled a muscle you didn’t know you had. So why not treat yourself to a facial or a day at the beauty spa? There are a great many treatments and products that women use every day, without a second thought, but these could be harmful to your unborn baby.
harmful, but if used over the whole body it is the equivalent of taking one or two aspirin. Rather use salt and oil scrubs for a body exfoliator. Sunscreens are safe, advises Martegoutte, but look for those containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If you are uncertain about any products you wish to use, speak to your gynaecologist or dermatologist.
chemical hazards
beauty therapy
“There are commonly known facial products and medicines that are recommended for skin problems such as acne, rashes and wrinkles that can be harmful in pregnancy,” says Dr Mmaselemo Tsauri, a Joburg gynaecologist. Retinol or vitamin A products should be avoided, especially in the first trimester. Retinol can be found in acne products, pore minimisers and wrinkle creams, says Tsauri, and if taken from conception to 13 weeks, can cause birth defects. Rather use simple products such as tissue oils, says Kirsten Martegoutte, a craniosacral and massage therapist in Durban. Corticosteroids, often used topically to treat skin conditions such as eczema, are relatively safe if used in low doses for a short time, says Tsauri. But prolonged use can affect the skin’s appearance, and potent steroids can be absorbed into the bloodstream, causing growth suppression, adrenal suppression or cleft palate. Ammonia, added to some hair dyes, can cause growth restriction if large enough quantities are absorbed into
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July 2014
names to look out for on the label Corticosteroids: hydrocortisone, cortisone Retinol: vitamin A, retinoids, retinoic acid, retin A, retinyl palmitate, retinol acetate Salicylic acid: beta hydroxy acid (BHA)
the bloodstream. You should also avoid Brazilian keratin treatment products that contain formaldehyde, which may be detrimental during pregnancy. Tsauri also recommends avoiding the antibiotic tetracycline, which may be used in small doses for acne or added to topical acne creams. It can affect the baby’s tooth enamel formation and bone growth, or cause liver damage to the mother, possibly causing premature labour. Salicylic acid is part of the aspirin family, says Martegoutte. In small doses, such as in cleansers and toners, it won’t be
Reflexology is something that should be avoided when you’re expecting, says Izelle Louw from Mommy Wellness Day Spa in Cape Town. Sauna and steam treatments are also not advisable as they raise body temperature, putting the developing baby at risk. Certain aromatherapy oils can be used, says Louw, but the therapist needs to be experienced in treating pregnant women. It is safe to receive massages during pregnancy to help with the pulls and strains that expectant women often experience, says Martegoutte, but go to a qualified practitioner who is comfortable working with pregnant women. For any treatment, Louw suggests you first speak to an experienced therapist. If you’re still in doubt, use a safe alternative such as natural henna instead of hair dye, or give it a miss until you’re finished breast-feeding. But just because you’re pregnant, it doesn’t mean you should miss out on spoiling yourself, or enjoying a soothing foot rub, even if you can’t see your feet.
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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com
some products and treatments can be harmful. By TAMLYN VINCENT