are cosmetics dangerous when pregnant?

[Mog]

I've just read that you shouldn't use products with retinol in them when pregnant. Can anyone give me any more info on this as quite a few products have this in and a substance called proretinol (is it the same?)
Also how much of a risk is it?

think it's because it's a form of vitamin A ie the same reason you're not supposed to eat liver which contains lots of vitamin A too - it's been associated with an increased risk of birth defects. not sure though whether it's the same level of risk though if you absorb it through the skin.

Blech, yet something else for pregger women to worry about.

Birth defects if you eat it (it's a form of Vitamin A... I think good for reducing wrinkles and spots?) Both University of Sheffield and dot pharmacy discusses increased risk of birth defects with very high oral intakes... but I wonder how much you'd have to put on your skin to be the same as a high dose into your tummy.

Can't find anything about risks from topical application of amounts you might get in a cosmetic, so maybe it's more of a caution than a known danger??

It wouldn't bother me. You have to have huge doses of vit A to cause birth defects anyway.

I read about it in a pregnancy magazine but there is no obvious warning on my face creams. I would have thought the manufacturer's would be hot on this if it was dangerous as they are such famous brands.
Anyway as an older pregnant mum I need to fend off those wrinkles

Just wondering if anyone else has anything to add on this one.....recently found out I am prenant and was putting a l'oreal product (called retinol pure) on my crows feet for about 2 weeks b4 I realised i was pregnant (At 35 need all the help i can get !) Doc said not to worry as need high doses to effect and putting on skin does not lead to high doses - but am still feeling bad. Have thrown it away now !!!

A couple of weeks of topical application to the skin is v unlikely to cause any harm. Skin cream altogether is far form your most risky area but if doctors are warning against then perhaps best to steer clear once you find out. Slap on lots of retinol free stuff til after the birth.
If it's any consolation I was taking cod liver oil to fend off a cold when I conceived but stopped immediately and have been told that ill effects are v unlikely.

What's the deal with Cod Liver Oil?!

Message withdrawn

Ah, thanks Harman. I seem to have known about soft cheeses forever, but I had no idea about the vit A stuff until a few weeks ago.

yahoo, I knew my profession would come in handy one day

Really high doses of retinol/retinoic acid will mutate your embryo. Bizarrely, really tiny doses are required for correct formation of the nervous system.

Nae worries with your cosmetics though gals. The dose is too small too worry about, PLUS cosmetics never get absorbed past the epidermis into your body. Any cream that does (eg steroids) must be classed as a medicine and available only by prescritpion or at the pharmacy counter. That's why most claims of cosmetics are bollocks.

Still, doesn't stop me slapping on the cocoa butter lotion in a vain attempt to prevent stretch marks

If you want an alternative to cod liver oil, you could try flaxseed oil (linseed oil) from a health food shop - is a veggy alternative that still contains all the omega-3 that is good for your brain/heart etc.

while you cant take cod liver oil during pregnancy (as liver very high in vit A) you CAN take Fish Oil (doesn't come from the liver). its great for baby brain development. and can help with constipation and piles in mum!

Oh, that explains something to me. I have been taking Cod liver oil for ages and when I got pregnant it made me sick - within 5 minutes of taking it. Have stopped now. Either it's a coincience, or the body truly is an amazing thing and knows what's ok.