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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Acne treatment during pregnancy... is there ANYTHING you're allowed to use...?

18 replies

JaneHH · 04/01/2008 21:50

Hi everyone, an MN newbie here!

Was just wondering, are there any other sufferers of pitted face / glaring red bulgy bits / whiteheads (I could go on but won't) out there who have found something pregnancy-legal which works for acne?

I used to be on the pill for acne (but that's obv a bit of a no-no now... ) and loads of antibiotics are also out of the question. The burning question is really... what about tea tree oil? (Which I used to slather on quite liberally to great effect, even though the stench was quite unbearable for everyone within a 10-mile radius.) There doesn't seem to be much concensus on the internet about whether or not it's safe to use while pg. What do others think?

Any advice on acne and/or tea tree oil would be greatly appreciated, thanks very much!

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sweetkitty · 04/01/2008 21:51

No advice but am keeping an eye on this thread, every time I get pregnant I get acne especially on my face, am using tee tree oil based cleansers now but they are not working.

The minute this one stops BFing I will be down the docs for Dianette!

Original poster

JaneHH · 04/01/2008 21:55

Dianette, that works a TREAT!!! I'll be right behind you in the queue at the chemists as soon as I'm allowed back on it

Thanks for your reply though. Hope some other MNers on here have some advice for us both!

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sweetkitty · 04/01/2008 22:00

I've been off Dianette for over 4 years now (pg-Bfing-pg-Bfing-3 month break-pg-mc-pg again) am seriously fed up with having spotty skin, seems to clear up a little on my face after about 14 weeks and when BFing but back stays very spotty.

Dianette is a wonder drug for me, first time I ever got to wear a backless top.

Original poster

JaneHH · 04/01/2008 22:08

Gosh it sounds as if you've been kept busy! 2 children and one on the way, wow. Sorry to hear that you had an mc in between, though. I have no children yet but am not pregnant for the first time (a bit of a long story, will save it for another thread...) but like you I do get worse skin when pregnant, though clear and flawless it's not been since I was ooh about 12. I was wondering, does it have anything to do with the sex of the baby? If you're having a boy do you get worse skin because of the testosterone levels? (You don't say what sex children you have.) Just an idle thought of mine, not based on any scientific fact whatsoever!

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tangent · 04/01/2008 22:14

I had the same problem. Was prescribed two different antibiotic lotions, one called Zineryt (zinc and erythromycin)the other called Dalacin T (clindamycin i think). I spoke to the pharmacist and GP about them. Apparently there's nothing to say that they are unsafe in pregnancy. I think it's because it not easy to actually test products on pregnant women, who would consent to it? Anyway, GP said use it, it'll be fine, Pharmacist said if I could put up with the acne as it's not a life threatening condition just aesthetic then maybe i could wait. My sister, a GP, said apparently Zineryt are marketing themselves as the safe in pregnancy option. Anyway, I chose to wait until the final couple of weeks and used Zineryt. Figured it wouldn't affect development at that stage and it's not like antibiotics are totally unsafe in pregnancy anyway. Anyway, your call, speak to GP, Pharmacist and Midwife.

tangent · 04/01/2008 22:17

BTW Terrible skin both pregnancies, two boys! Pregnancies very different otherwise in terms of nausea, sickness, craving etc

sweetkitty · 04/01/2008 22:18

Jane - busy but fun I'm afraid I have two girls so nothing to do with testosterone.

Tangent - I tried Zineryt years ago and it didn't relaly work for me, I agree though a lot of medicines probably are fine in pregnancy it's just that no one has ever tested them to make sure that's why you get the blanket don't take anything if pregnant.

tangent · 04/01/2008 22:21

True, I gave up on zineryt, changed to Dalacin-T. Nothing quite works like the pill.

Original poster

JaneHH · 04/01/2008 22:22

Thanks for that, Tangent. Dalacin T, is that the one in a kind of deo bottle with a spongey applicator thingy on top? (As gross and germ-spreading as it sounds ) Sounds v familiar from my teenage years... Might have worked my way through the effectiveness of that one, unfortunately

However the Zineryt might be an option, thanks very much for that.

The main problem besides the zits themselves is exactly what you mention, person A says one thing and person B says another. In the meantime you're left wondering whether or not to risk it...

Anyone any ideas on tea tree oil (on that note!)? (I'll be going with the majority vote, as you'll have worked out by now )

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Original poster

JaneHH · 04/01/2008 22:26

Sorry, Tangent, we cross-posted there. Hope you're having better experience of the Dalacin T deo bottle than I did (or they've improved the packaging )

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Original poster

JaneHH · 04/01/2008 22:28

Kitty - so my little testosterone theory ís rubbish then! Good to know so I don't get any expectations either way on sex of baby etc...

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sweetkitty · 04/01/2008 22:39

Apparently I read on one site that if your skin gets worse and you look terrible it's a girl as daughters steal their mothers beauty.

Sure thats an old wives tale!

I must have two lovely daughters as I look awful whilst pregnant am still waiting to bloom.

tangent · 04/01/2008 22:42

The packaging is still rubbish.

burstingbug · 04/01/2008 22:49

When I was pregnant, my skin was really clear. Short while after, my skin was crap again.
I was on Dianette 10 years ago which sent me as mad as a box of frogs and I gained weight (don't remember if it cleared my skin), so was put back on microgynon after a few months.
Think I'm destined to remain spotty forever. Oh and my skin gets worse 1 week before af !

Original poster

JaneHH · 04/01/2008 22:49

to both of you! I'm orf to bed, night all.

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Original poster

JaneHH · 05/01/2008 10:09

Sorry burstingbug, hadn't seen your post when I rudely cleared off to bed... (I'm an hour ahead of UK time so get tired earlier!) The spotty week before af is very familiar, too. Think I'm destined to remain spotty forever, too, unfortunately. When I was 16 I went to the dermatologist who told me rather grandly that I'd have probably have spots "until I was 25". Obviously life stops after 21 so that was a major downer for me at that point (to put it mildly). But how wrong could she be... 32 and still with the skin of a teenager (if we ignore the wrinkles )

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IndigoBlue · 05/01/2008 10:13

I'm pregnant and continuing to use Duac gel which is on prescription. Two GPs have said it's safe (as far as anyone knows), I used it all through my last pregnancy as well. Only thing is it takes a couple of months to have an effect so isn't instant but I don't know of any acne treatments that are.

Original poster

JaneHH · 05/01/2008 10:18

OK, another one to ask the GP about! Thanks for that, Indigo. I agree, there's nothing instant out there (if there was I fear it would involve awful peeling-of-face etc...)

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