Best Acne Treatments for Pregnancy, According to Doctors and Real Parents-to-Be

Just like your body, your skin has a mind of its own when you’re pregnant. “Pregnancy confers a lot of hormonal changes, and one of the things you may experience is an increase in the activity of sebaceous glands in your skin,” says Kecia Gaither, M.D., Director of Perinatal Services and Maternal Fetal Medicine for NYC Health+Hospitals/Lincoln in New York. That means an increase in oil production, which can plug pores and lead to breakouts.

The bad news: Your favorite spot treatment or acne wash may not be safe right now, which makes pregnancy acne a little harder to treat.

“It’s important to note that whatever you put on your face, regardless of it being topical, gets absorbed into the skin and could affect the baby," says Shari Sperling, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Sperling Dermatology in Florham Park, New Jersey. 

When in doubt, she says, you'll want to get your doctor's okay before putting anything on your skin during pregnancy.

What acne treatment should you avoid during pregnancy?

Some skin care ingredients are potentially risky to baby and have been associated with birth defects, says Dr. Gaither. A few ingredients you should avoid include:

• Retinols and retinoids. Dr. Gaither advises moms-to-be to stop using both prescription retinoids and over-the-counter retinol products. (Oral vitamin A derivatives, like isotretinoin, should absolutely not be used if you’re thinking about becoming pregnant or are pregnant.)
• Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. There's some debate about whether these common acne-fighters are safe. Many doctors say you should avoid them, but the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says they may be okay in small doses. To be safe, ask your doctor before using products with these ingredients.

It can be helpful to look for cleansers and spot treatments with these active ingredients, which are thought to be safe for pregnancy, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

• Azelaic acid
• Glycolic acid

Pro tip: At your next OB/GYN visit, bring a bag of your skincare products, says Dr. Gaither. Your doctor will be able to look over the list of ingredients and give you better advice than if you simply told her what products you were using.

There are still acne treatments out there that you can use during pregnancy. Just keep in mind that everyone's skin is different — if you’ve noticed a sudden change in your skin, your OB/GYN and dermatologist should be your first stop for a treatment plan and you should always consult them before trying a new product yourself.

How we made our picks for the best acne treatments for pregnancy

Searching for new skincare can be overwhelming, which is why we did the work for you. We first pulled products that met the safety standards established by the AAD and ACOG. From there, we conducted editorial research, focusing on popularity, innovation, design, quality, value and ease of use, with feedback from OB/GYN and other experts. We also had What to Expect staff and contributors road-test products at home, and sought help from real parents in the What to Expect community to provide insights on products that are effective at tackling acne, yet gentle on your skin during pregnancy.

Here are pregnancy-friendly acne products that will help you get rid of existing pimples, prevent new breakouts and erase dark spots to give you that bun-in-the-oven glow everyone keeps talking about.