title: Safety of skin care products during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many of my female patients complain about acne, unwanted hair growth, and other skin problems that have only developed since they became pregnant. Are products used for these types of benign skin conditions safe to use in pregnancy, as it is understandable that women want to look their best at this important time in their lives?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the exception of hydroquinone, which has a relatively high systemic absorption rate, and tretinoin, for which the evidence is controversial, these products act locally and therefore produce minimal systemic levels. Consequently, in most cases women can deal with these cosmetically unappealing skin conditions without compromising the safety of their unborn children.
authors.affiliation: Motherisk Team, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Pina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bozzo
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chua-Gocheco
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Einarson
mesh_terms: D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D017592:Skin Care / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics