Skincare When Trying to Conceive: What to Keep, Swap and Ask About

By DermLens AI · 11 October 2026 · 7 min read

If you are trying for a baby, you may be wondering whether your skincare routine needs to change before you see a positive test. Good news first: the vast majority of everyday skincare, such as cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen, needs no changes. There are a few things worth checking before you conceive, because early pregnancy can go unnoticed for the first weeks.

Start with a medicines check

The NHS advises talking to your GP if you or your partner take prescribed medicine, over-the-counter medicine or herbal remedies while trying to conceive. It also says not to stop any prescribed medicine until you have talked to your GP or specialist. That includes prescription skincare. Bring a list of everything you use, creams included.

Prescription acne tablets are in a different category

Isotretinoin (known by the brand name Roaccutane) is taken as a tablet for severe acne. The MHRA describes it as a powerful teratogen, meaning it is associated with a high frequency of severe birth defects if a baby is exposed in the womb, and states that women who could become pregnant must be on a Pregnancy Prevention Programme. If you take it and want to conceive, speak to your prescriber first. Do not stop or restart it on your own, and do not rely on skincare articles for this decision.

What about topical retinoids and retinol?

This is the question we hear most. Creams and serums containing retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene and others) are a different matter from tablets, because very little reaches the bloodstream. Two systematic reviews have looked at pregnancies where the mother used topical retinoids in the first trimester:

• A 2015 meta-analysis covered 654 exposed pregnancies and 1,375 unexposed ones. It did not detect significant increases in major congenital malformations or spontaneous abortion.
• A 2026 meta-analysis of eight studies covering more than 3.6 million pregnancies also found no significant association with major malformations or spontaneous abortion. Its authors say the findings support the relative safety of topical retinoids in early pregnancy, but note that the results were driven mainly by a single large registry study.

What this means in practice: if you used a retinol product before you knew you were pregnant, the research is reassuring. But “no increase detected” is not the same as “proven safe”, and the standard advice remains to avoid retinoids in pregnancy as a precaution. Many people therefore choose to swap to alternatives when they begin trying, so the question never arises. That is your call, and your pharmacist or GP can talk it through.

A simple routine while you are trying

• Cleanser and moisturiser: keep what already works for you.
• Sunscreen every morning. Pigmentation changes are common in pregnancy, and protection from the start helps. See our melasma guide and understanding SPF.
• Brightening or breakout support: niacinamide and azelaic acid are popular choices. Our pregnancy skincare guide covers the wider picture.
• Swapping retinol: bakuchiol is often suggested. We have not found controlled studies in pregnancy, so check with your midwife or doctor first.

Check any supplements for vitamin A

The NHS says not to take supplements containing vitamin A (retinol) or cod liver oil in pregnancy, because too much vitamin A can harm a baby's development. If you take a multivitamin, or a hair, skin and nails supplement, read the label now. See our guides to supplements when trying to conceive and what to check on the label.

The bottom line

Most of your routine can stay. Do a medicines check with your GP or pharmacist, treat acne tablets as a special case, and think about swapping retinoids for alternatives when you start trying. If you do use a retinol product before you realise you are pregnant, the studies so far are reassuring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. NHS. Trying to get pregnant. Page last reviewed 2 June 2026. nhs.uk
2. MHRA. Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): reminder of important risks and precautions. Drug Safety Update, August 2020 (since superseded by later MHRA advice; current guidance is on GOV.UK). gov.uk
3. 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
4. Alali AB, et al. Topical retinoids and risk of major congenital malformations and spontaneous abortion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Drug Saf Regul, 2026. doi:10.3389/fdsfr.2026.1864872
5. NHS. Pregnancy vitamins and supplements. Page last reviewed 3 June 2026. nhs.uk

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.