Experts warn women not to use cosmetics during pregnancy

Experts warn pregnant women not to use any kind of cosmetics during their first trimester like cleaning agents, make-up products, anti-acne creams etc to protect the developing foetal brain.

Effect of these chemicals on foetal brain can trigger autism and may affect the baby’s health. So experts warm women to stay away from lipsticks, lipbalms and anti-acne creams etc during pregnancy.

List of products and ingredients which should be avoided during pregnancy:

Make-up Products: Make-up products like lipstick, lip-gloss, lip balms, eyeliners, mascaras, deodorants, foundation, nail polish, body oil, talcum powder, hair removal products and hair dyes. As these are made of chemicals, they can cause many problems.

Cosmetic Products (Representative Image)

Use of these cosmetics can lead to infertility, miscarriage, hormonal imbalance, delayed puberty, endocrinal damage, premature delivery of the baby, endometriosis which causes severe pain in pelvic region, birth defects, neurological damage to child, ovarian cancer and skin allergies.

Acne cosmetic cream is one of the worst cosmetic product that shows much impact on foetal development. So avoid using acne creams and gels during pregnancy which is a must. This is because acne creams are rich in retinoids which may lead to miscarriages and abnormal foetal brain development.

Personal care products like soaps contain Triclosan and Triclocarban which are used as antimicrobial agents. These products may cause problems in your body.

Soaps, shampoos and conditioners contain a preservative known as Parabens which help to prevent the growth of bacteria. But over use of these products affect the fertility.

Volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and others are a main ingredient in nail polishes which can show birth defects and also affect fertility.

Toluene is a commonly used solvent for bringing glossy finish on the nails. But Toluene affects the central nervous system and can affect reproduction.

We can see Phthalates which is the most common chemical in every cosmetic product. Phthalates can cause hormonal imbalance, affects fertility and may also build up in the breast milk.

Oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate are the common ingredients in sunscreen products, lip balms and also other cosmetics with SPF. These chemicals can cause endometriosis which is a problem with uterus. Usage of these products may become a risk to your pregnancy and reproductive system.