A Primer on Pregnancy Skin Care

A woman's body undergoes profound changes during pregnancy, delivery and the post-partum period. Hormonal changes early-on signal all systems to respond and adapt in an on-going process of accommodation over the approximate 40 weeks of gestation and beyond. The skin in particular has to make major adjustments to an expanding abdomen and preparation for delivery. Women's skin can reflect the high levels of estrogen and progesterone by becoming more reactive, oily or dry. Due to the increased amounts of melanocyte-stimulating hormone areas of hyperpigmentation develop, including the face, referred to as melasma or the "mask of pregnancy."

Small lipo-soluble molecules, such as essential oils, a host of other non-toxic as well as toxic agents, are absorbed via our sweat or sebaceous ducts, enter the superficial capillaries then make their way into our systemic circulation. With the widely acknowledged toxic levels of pesticides, heavy metals, and innumerable other chemical residues detectable in all of us, it is especially important for expectant women to consider the ways in which they can minimize their own, and subsequently, their baby's exposure.

It is a disheartening fact that at least 200 toxic chemical residues are routinely found in the cord blood of newborns and the breastmilk of women. Therefore, it is prudent to scrutinize what products and ingredients are applied to the skin, their manufacture, and even the container in which they are sold in. Botanical extracts, nut and seed oils are concentrated preparations for use in body care products, especially those being sold as "natural." If they are not organically certified, they can contain undesirable levels of pesticides and other contaminates from their cultivation and production.

Wise consumers are increasingly choosing organic-labeled products. However, it is important to select products that are certified organic or biodynamic by a reputable certifying agency. For example, Demeter is a widely acknowledged worldwide certifying agency for biodynamic consumer food and products. Biodynamic agriculture is a comprehensive and exacting form of cultivation, superseding organic standards. For more information see www.biodynamics.com and www.organicconsumers.org. Products should be in glass or plastic containers that are phthalate-free. Many mass-produced products are sold in plastic containers containing phthalates, a plasticizing or softening agent, which have been shown in some studies to be endocrine disruptors, associated in particular with congenital defects in male infants. Phthalates are also an ingredient in perfume, nail polish, shampoos, skin moisturizers, toys, baby pacifiers as well as hundreds of other consumer products. See www.toxtown.nlm.nih.gov.

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