What the American Academy of Dermatology Says About Pregnancy Skin Care Ingredients

By DermLens AI · 11 October 2026 · 5 min read

If you have searched for what the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says about skin care in pregnancy, this is a plain-English summary of its public guidance. The AAD page we are summarising is titled Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care and was last updated on 26 June 2025. Guidance can change, so check the live page, and remember that your own midwife, GP or dermatologist knows your situation best.

Ingredients the AAD says to avoid

The AAD says some prescription and over-the-counter skin care ingredients can put a baby at risk of birth defects and should not be used during pregnancy. Its list includes:

• Retinoids, including prescription acne treatments such as isotretinoin, tretinoin and tazarotene
• Hydroquinone, an ingredient that lightens skin tone
• Several medicines that are not skin care products as such: finasteride, spironolactone, the antibiotics tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, and 5-fluorouracil

Ingredients the AAD says to limit and discuss

The AAD lists the following to use sparingly, and says to discuss them with your dermatologist and limit how often you use them:

• Salicylic acid at high doses (greater than 2%)
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Parabens, phthalates, phenol and triclosan
• Essential oils such as rosemary, basil, jasmine and sage

What the AAD recommends instead

• A physical (mineral) sunscreen containing zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both, to avoid skin irritation. It recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
• A simple routine: cleanse up to twice a day, moisturise regularly and protect your skin from the sun.
• Gentle formulas: check labels for products free of fragrances and harsh chemicals such as alcohols and sulfates.
• A product containing vitamin C in the morning and one containing glycolic acid in the evening, as recommended by the dermatologist quoted on the page.

How this fits with other research

The AAD's position on retinoids is clear: avoid them. Separately, systematic reviews of women who used topical retinoids in early pregnancy before they knew did not find significant increases in malformations or miscarriage, which is reassuring if it happened to you. We cover both in our first-trimester skincare guide. The two do not conflict: the precaution is the advice, and the reviews are reassurance about accidental exposure.

On pigmentation, our melasma guide explains why sunscreen from the first trimester matters, which lines up with the AAD's emphasis on sun protection.

Our full ingredient guide

For a longer, ingredient-by-ingredient look, including azelaic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C, read our pregnancy-safe skincare guide.

The bottom line

The AAD says to avoid retinoids and hydroquinone, to limit high-dose salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and essential oils, and to choose a mineral SPF 30+ sunscreen with a simple, gentle routine. Check anything unfamiliar with your pharmacist, midwife or dermatologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care. Page last updated 26 June 2025. aad.org
2. Kaplan YC, et al. Pregnancy outcomes following first-trimester exposure to topical retinoids: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Dermatol, 2015. doi:10.1111/bjd.14053

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or dermatologist before changing your routine.