Can I use retinol moisturisers while breastfeeding?

[hester]

Tedious question but somebody must know the answer! I avoided retinol moisturisers throughout pregnancy, because I read about the risk of too much vitamin A entering my bloodstream, but I don't know whether the same applies while breastfeeding.

Can someone help?

I would think the amount of retinol that could possibly get into your breastmilk would be absolutely minute.

However, must admit I've never even heard of women being advised not to use retinol moisturisers, though so don't take my advice as gospel!

I did a tiny google, and it does sound like excessive vitamin A in your system is bad while breastfeeding, but, like snafu, I doubt much retinol from a moisturiser gets into your blood, anyway.

(The vitamin A overdose risk in pregnancy is real, but you have to be living on liver to have a problem, I think.)

Thanks so much, both. Your advice makes good sense - my baby is already 14 weeks so I guess I'm unlikely to build up enough vitamin A in my system now. thank god! I'm looking like a hag and desperately need to take action...

Hello dearie

Madame L'Inferieure! As you can see I am still stalking the halls of Mumsnet in a desperate attempt to turn back the clock and return to the glories of my youth.

I am, sadly, a very un-yummy mummy at the moment. as you will see next Friday.

xxx

It's fine! And no, you can take vitamin A until you turn orange and it won't hurt your baby. The - absolutely minute risk - is only at a very specific point early in pregnancy when excess vitamin A (huge amounts) may cause birth defects. By birth your baby's organs are generally fully formed
And the amount from your moisturiser is nonexistent really.

It's all my fault, I wrote the article which quoted suggestions you should steer off the retinol The stuff on food was brilliant, obviously, because it came from a Highly Reputable Source

Aha, I should have known it was you! OK, here's another one: is it possible to cause permanent damage to my miracle child by practically mainlining chocolate (me,not her)?

no, that's really good. a proper study linked choc consumption in pg with happier babies - honest!
here

Ah, I got complimented in John Lewis yesterday on how happy and smiley she is, and now we know why