Pregnancy and Acne: A Very Serious Topic

One of the side effects of pregnancy on the bodies systems is an increased level of hormones that in turn, can produce a number of changes on the skin, with acne being one of them. In women who aren't pregnant, there is the option of treating the acne with a number of readily available drugs including Accutane.

However; for women who are in even the very earliest stages of their pregnancy, drugs like Accutane in particular, simply aren't an option. It's important to bear in mind that as it pertains to pregnancy and acne, drugs that are deemed relatively safe can have long term effects on unborn children that still remain unknown.

Common Acne Treatment Drugs


(Accutane) should not even be considered in even the most severe cases of pregnancy and acne. In fact it is recommended that women who feel that they might become pregnant should stop taking this drug one month beforehand. Fact: fully 25-35 percent of pregnancies where Accutane exposure occurs in the first trimester do result in birth defects.

(Retin-A) also carries a warning regarding pregnancy and acne on its label. Although no known birth defects have resulted from its use, the fact remains that an unacceptable level of this drug will pass from the mother to the infant being carried in the womb.

(Tetracyclene) is an antibiotic that is commonly prescribed for acne. Once again this is another drug that should not be taken during pregnancy, as it has been shown to inhibit bone development. Another side effect on children who were exposed to this drug as infants, is a yellowing of the teeth.

Pregnancy and Acne - Safety and Prevention

The risk to unborn children presented by Accutane is so great that doctors who prescribe it to women in their childbearing years commonly recommend that two forms of birth control be used simultaneously. It's just that dangerous to unborn children.

Prior to taking Accutane, all doctors will also require that a pregnancy test be taken at least one week before hand. It's also highly recommended that women who are being considered for Accutane undergo counseling to learn how various birth control methods can fail.

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