Pregnancy brings many changes to your body, and your skin is no exception. From the coveted “pregnancy glow” to less welcome changes like hormonal breakouts and melasma, pregnancy brings a whole new category of skincare to the forefront. If you’re wondering, “Can you get a facial while pregnant?” you’re not alone.
Many beauty treatments remain safe during this special time, but it’s not always obvious which. While maintaining your skincare routine should be prioritized during pregnancy, it’s important to understand which treatments and ingredients are safe for both you and your baby.
Can You Get a Facial While Pregnant?
Yes, you can absolutely get a facial while pregnant, but it’s important to choose pregnancy-safe options that are specific to your changing skin needs. During pregnancy, your skin becomes more sensitive, so it’s important to opt for gentler treatments.
The Benefits of Getting a Facial While Pregnant
Pregnancy brings significant hormonal and skin changes. You may experience increased oil production, leading to breakouts and acne; heightened melanin production, which can manifest as melasma or “pregnancy mask”; or even dryness as more moisture is directed to blood production. Many facials can be modified to accommodate sensitivity or customized to address these specific concerns while avoiding ingredients or techniques that might pose risks.
From addressing pregnancy-specific skin concerns to providing much-needed relaxation, getting a facial during pregnancy can offer numerous benefits beyond just maintaining your skincare routine, including:
- Stress Reduction: Pregnancy can be physically and emotionally demanding, and a gentle facial provides a much-needed opportunity to relax and unwind. The soothing experience of a facial can help lower stress hormones, which is beneficial for both maternal and baby health.
- Pregnancy Skincare: Professional facials can specifically target common pregnancy-related skin conditions like hormonal breakouts, increased sensitivity, and dryness. A skilled clinician can apply appropriate treatments specific to you that safely address these issues without compromising your baby’s health.
- Improved Circulation: The massage techniques used during facials can help increase blood flow to facial tissues, promoting a natural glow. Enhanced circulation helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells, supporting cellular health and helping to maintain that beautiful pregnancy glow.
- Professional Expertise: Working with a knowledgeable clinician can help you adjust your skincare routine throughout your pregnancy. You’ll receive recommendations for pregnancy-safe products and tips for healthy skin.
- Improved Mood: There’s nothing like a good pampering! Facials are known to release endorphins, and these “feel good” hormones not only make you feel better but can also benefit your little one since your emotional state affects your pregnancy.
Precautions To Take
While facials can be safe during pregnancy, taking the following precautions will help give you and your baby the best experience possible:
- Research Credentials: Choose a reputable medical spa with licensed clinicians who have worked extensively with pregnant clients. Experienced professionals will understand the unique considerations of prenatal skincare and know exactly which modifications need to be made for your safety.
- Communicate Clearly: Before booking any appointment, inform the medspa that you’re pregnant and specify which trimester you’re in. Remember, the first trimester is the most critical for your baby’s health, so even if you aren’t showing yet, it’s important to let your clinician know. This information allows them to customize your treatment as needed and avoid any potentially problematic ingredients or techniques.
- Listen to Your Body: Pregnancy often heightens sensitivity to smells, touches, and positions, so don’t hesitate to speak up if something feels uncomfortable. Your comfort is one of the most important considerations during your treatment, and a good clinician will make adjustments immediately if you let them know.
- Avoid Overheating: Be cautious about facials that involve steam, heated beds, or hot towels, since overheating can potentially affect fetal development. Pregnancy makes it difficult for your body to cool itself down, making you more susceptible to overheating, so see if the room temperature can be turned down, and consider cooling treatments and cold compresses.
- Consult your OB/GYN: When in doubt, check with your healthcare provider before scheduling any spa treatment. Your OB/GYN knows your specific health situation better than anyone and can comment on which treatments are appropriate for your individual pregnancy journey.
Facial Treatments That Are Safe During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your skin deserves special care that addresses your unique needs while protecting the safety of both you and your little one. Fortunately, several types of facial treatments are generally considered safe for pregnant women. These gentler approaches focus on hydration, nourishment, and mild cleansing without the use of harsh ingredients or aggressive techniques.
Pregnancy-safe facials can still deliver impressive results, helping you manage common skin concerns while providing a much-needed opportunity for relaxation and self-care. Each of these treatments offers specific benefits, particularly relevant to pregnancy-related skin changes, from combating dryness to addressing that pregnancy-triggered sensitivity.
Gentle Hydrating Facials
Hydrating facials focus on replenishing moisture and nourishing your skin with pregnancy-safe ingredients that won’t cross the placental barrier. These treatments are especially beneficial during pregnancy when many women experience increased dry skin due to the body reallocating moisture to produce more blood needed for the baby’s development. A good hydrating facial can include gentle cleansing, alcohol-free toners, pregnancy-safe masks rich in hyaluronic acid, and lightweight moisturizers that restore your skin’s natural barrier.
Oxygen Facials
Oxygen facials deliver a pressurized stream of oxygen infused with vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts directly to your skin’s surface. This non-invasive treatment helps improve new cell production, increases collagen, and provides immediate hydration without any harsh chemicals or invasive techniques.
The increased oxygen delivery to skin cells can help reduce the appearance of fatigue, leaving you with a refreshed glow without any risk to your little one.
Basic Cleansing Facials
A gentle cleansing facial focuses on removing impurities, excess oil, and dead skin cells through mild cleansers and light exfoliation. These medical-grade facials are particularly beneficial during pregnancy when hormonal fluctuations can lead to increased oil production and breakouts in many women.
The treatment typically includes a thorough but gentle cleanse, careful extractions performed by a skilled clinician to clear pores and remove remaining impurities, and the application of soothing, pregnancy-safe products that calm inflammation and support your skin’s natural healing processes.
Steam Treatments in Moderation
Gentle steam treatments can be incorporated into pregnancy facials when used briefly and at a comfortable distance to avoid overheating. The light steam helps to open pores and remove impurities without exposing you to excessive heat.
When properly administered as part of a HydraFacial or similar treatment, these brief steam applications can improve the effectiveness of subsequent skincare products, allowing them to penetrate more deeply for better results.
Facial Treatments and Skincare Ingredients To Avoid While Pregnant
While maintaining a skincare routine during pregnancy is important, certain facial treatments and ingredients pose potential risks to you and your developing baby. Common skincare ingredients found in certain creams, deep-cleansing scrubs, and sunscreens can be absorbed through the skin and may cross the placental barrier. This caution isn’t meant to scare you but to empower you to make informed choices about your pregnancy skincare.
During pregnancy, your body’s ability to process and eliminate certain chemicals changes, especially with high doses. That’s why treatments that might have been perfectly fine before pregnancy may now need to be postponed until after delivery and, if applicable, the lactation and breastfeeding periods.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels, particularly those containing high percentages of acids or aggressive peeling agents, should be avoided during pregnancy due to potential absorption risks. While chemical peels are effective for treating various skin concerns, ingredients like salicylic acid and others can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
In low doses (under 10%), alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), like glycolic or lactic acid, may be safe for pregnancy, but animal models have shown adverse effects in high concentrations. It’s better to err on the side of caution and postpone these treatments until after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Microdermabrasion & Harsh Exfoliation
Aggressive exfoliation treatments like microdermabrasion may be too uncomfortable for sensitive pregnancy skin and potentially cause injury. While skin resurfacing treatments are typically safe for non-pregnant individuals, these treatments can be problematic for expectant mothers. In fact, physical abrasion can trigger melasma, which many pregnant women are already predisposed to.
Retinoid-Based Products
Retinoids, including prescription-strength retinol and over-the-counter vitamin A derivatives, should be completely avoided during pregnancy. These powerful ingredients work by accelerating cell turnover and have been linked to vitamin A toxicity and birth defects when taken orally during pregnancy.
Medical professionals recommend avoiding topical applications as well out of an abundance of caution. Even though the absorption through the skin is minimal compared to oral intake, the potential risks far outweigh any temporary skincare benefits.
High-Frequency or Laser Treatments
Laser treatments, light therapy, and high-frequency electrical treatments should be postponed until after pregnancy due to insufficient safety data. These treatments often generate heat and may affect tissues beyond just the skin’s surface, potentially reaching deeper where effects on pregnancy aren’t well studied. Additionally, melasma can actually worsen with light and laser treatments, making them not only potentially risky but also less effective during this time.
Essential Oils & Fragrances
Many essential oils can cause extremely adverse effects on pregnancies, including the loss of the baby. Buchu, green yarrow, Indian dill seed (sowa), calamint (cuckoo flower, field balm, nepitella), parsley, pennyroyal, plectranthus, rue, savin, Spanish sage, wormwood (absinthe), and zedoary oils (white turmeric, hidden ginger) and more should all be avoided. Additionally, fragrances can trigger headaches, nausea, or breathing difficulties for pregnant women with heightened sensitivities to scents.
Schedule Your Facial Treatment With VITRA Aesthetics
At VITRA Aesthetics, we understand the unique skincare needs of expectant mothers and take pride in offering pregnancy-safe skincare treatments designed specifically for this special time in your life. Our experienced clinicians are knowledgeable about the changes your skin is going through and can customize treatments that address your concerns while prioritizing safety for both you and your baby. With convenient locations in Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, and Massapequa, our medical spas provide a serene environment where you can relax and receive expert care throughout your pregnancy journey.
Schedule your pregnancy-safe facial at VITRA Aesthetics today. Our team is ready to help you maintain healthy, radiant skin throughout your pregnancy. Remember that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s an essential part of a healthy pregnancy experience that benefits both you and your little one.