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Peeling during pregnancy

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Professional cosmetician will not hold face peeling during pregnancy. Many women in the state are wondering why. Today we will try to answer this question and remove all doubts about the expediency and, most importantly, the harmlessness of this cosmetic procedure.

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Retinoic peeling in the planning of pregnancy

Women should know: retinoic peeling during pregnancy planning and during gestation is prohibited. Peeling with this acid is deeper than peeling with salicylic acid. It has been established that the metabolite retinol (vitamin A) retinoic acid is similar in structure to steroid hormones and plays a key role in embryonic development. When penetrated through cell membranes, retinoic acid acts through receptors on the proteins of the cell nuclei, binds to them and begins to regulate the transfer of genetic information (gene expression) in the cells of the developing embryo. This breaks the process of differentiation of cells and tissues, causing various mutations.

Even in pharmaceuticals, according to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA), high teratogenicity of retinoic acid has been detected.

Since peeling with retinoic acid is usually performed in combination with peeling with salicylic acid (the so-called Jessner peeling), retinoic acid penetrates deeper layers of the skin. The client walks with a chemical solution on her face, and only after two days is the peeling process.

In addition to the above risks, retinoic peeling during pregnancy can create health risks, including trauma and skin scars. Because of the decrease in the protective forces of the body in pregnant women, the process of healing and regeneration of epithelial cells can be slowed, which is fraught with infection of the skin of the face.

So, peeling during pregnancy is contraindicated, but you can follow yourself, using suitable means, moisturizing the skin. It is harmful to take a hot shower and wash with hot water, preferably warm, and then cool - the skin will dry less and itch. And overseas obstetricians-gynecologists advise pregnant women to use arnica oil to lubricate acne, apply sunscreen (SPF not lower than 15), eat properly, and consume enough fluids. And stay away from any chemical procedures on the skin.

Face peeling during pregnancy: real and possible consequences

Because of the hormonal changes in the body, the skin of many pregnant women becomes drier and begins to peel off by the end of the first trimester of gestation. Dry skin can be the result of a lack of fluid in the body: a woman drinks a little water, while during pregnancy the body has to increase the volume of blood.

In others, on the contrary, the sebaceous glands begin to work hard, and acne develops. In many people, estrogen and progesterone stimulate the synthesis of melanin, and pigment spots (chloasma) appear on the skin of the face. In general, skin problems are enough. Do you want to solve them and do chemical peeling during pregnancy?

Chemical skin peeling is performed using natural hydroxycarboxylic acids, in particular, hydroxyacetic or glycolic acids. For a deeper peeling, trichloroacetic acid is used.

Glycolic acid (obtained by oxidation of ethylene glycol or reduction of oxalic acid) disrupts intracellular "bridges" between keratinocytes, dehydrates and practically destroys the upper layer of the skin so that the cells die and slough off. In the medical language, this process is called desquamation. In fact, cosmetic peeling (peel in English - peeling, peeling, peeling) is deliberate damage and loss of the upper layer of the skin (epidermis); Its purpose is to accelerate the regeneration of the surface layer of the skin damaged by UV irradiation. New epidermal cells contain more substances that make the skin more elastic and smooth, for a while, smooth wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead and around the eyes, and vertical wrinkles near the mouth are smoothed out. This procedure is considered rejuvenating and is intended for those who have obvious signs of photo aging on their skin. At the same time, no peeling can stop the process of photoaging itself.

Glycolic peeling during pregnancy is contraindicated, and this procedure can not be performed in the presence of herpes simplex virus, diabetes mellitus, infectious and autoimmune diseases.

In industry (metallurgical, machine building, oil and gas, leather), glycolic acid is used to clean various surfaces; its use in cosmetology is associated with keratolytic properties. But reliable information that hydroxyacetic acid "contributes to the synthesis of collagen" is absent. Collagen has a protein structure and is produced in several stages with the participation of many enzymes ...

Possible complications of the procedure for glycol peeling include scars, increased photosensitivity of the skin, prolonged erythema, anomalies of pigmentation, skin atrophy and changes in its texture. Doctors also caution that acid solutions used in chemical peeling can activate hidden foci of herpes infection.

Also, almond peeling during pregnancy (peeling with almond acid) is contraindicated, which can lead to similar consequences.

trusted-source[3], [4]

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