5 Beauty Treatments You Should Quit When You’re Expecting
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This article is for all the expecting mothers out there, and also, for the ones who are thinking of embarking on the journey of motherhood. We all are aware that pregnancy is known to be one of the most overwhelming periods in a woman’s life.
In a period of 9 months, your body will go through some serious changes, some of which are likely to be permanent. It’s going to do the hard work of preparing itself to accommodate another human being and for this remarkable feat, it deserves all the attention and pampering it can get. But since it’s housing another human being as it’s guest, all the self-love and care has to be done in a responsible manner. So while we’re all for you getting those facials and massages done, here are a few beauty treatments and products that you should avoid during your pregnancy for the safety of your little one-
1. Mani-Pedis
With those swollen ankles, getting a massage is one indulgence that almost every expecting mother looks forward to, and because of that mani-pedis are one of the most opted for treatments by them. But we are here to tell you that you might have to forgo this beauty treatment for a while. This is because of those nail paints that you put on at the end of this ritual. Nail paints contain toxins such as formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate which are capable of leaching into your body and harming your baby. In fact, it has been found that many nail salon workers had experienced miscarriages or had trouble getting pregnant, and this was the reason why (1). So it’s best to go au naturel for a while.
2. Sunscreen
Yes, this skincare staple can be harmful for your baby. While sunscreen does a good job of protecting our skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun, it also contains chemicals such as oxybenzone, homosalate, and other chemical additives. Oxybenzone has been linked to low weight at birth whereas chemicals with “benzone” in them are known to interfere with hormones.You should also avoid using spray-on sunscreen as even natural ingredients such as titanium dioxide can become carcinogenic when inhaled in great quantities (2). Instead, mineral sunscreen that contains zinc oxide is a safer alternative.
3. Depilatory Creams
Maintaining hygiene under the hood remains one of the top concerns for a lot of pregnant women. However, it becomes quite impossible for them to reach that area as their pregnancy advances, and therefore a lot of them switch to using depilatory creams to get the job done. But we’re here to tell you that this treatment is not worth the hygiene benefits as most of these creams are loaded with chemicals (the smell gives it away) and they can get absorbed into the skin which can be very harmful to you. Also, one’s skin becomes more sensitive around the time of pregnancy, so there’s the risk of allergic reactions as well. All the more reason for you to avoid it.
4. Sauna And Steam-baths
While getting a steam bath sounds lovely, it’s not advisable for you to get one if you have a bun in the oven. During pregnancy, a woman’s body is already warmer than usual, due to the hormonal changes and increased blood supply. And because of this, she runs the risk of overheating if she uses sauna, jacuzzi or steam-baths, and this can make her feel faintish or dehydrated. Also, a rise in body’s core temperature can affect baby’s development in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy (3). Therefore, if you’re an expecting mama, then you should give that jacuzzi a wide berth (pun intended).
5. Hair Coloring
A common piece of traditional wisdom has always warned expecting mothers to avoid coloring their hair during the length of their pregnancy. This was because it was thought that most hair colors have chemicals in them and there is a chance that they can get absorbed into the bloodstream and affect both the child and the mother negatively.
However, there is no conclusive study that proves this is the case. And besides, most doctors state that hair colors contain those chemicals in very trace amounts. Be that as it may, due to the increased sensitivity of the skin during pregnancy, you should avoid this treatment to avoid allergic reactions (4). If you must, you should go for color treatments such as balayage where the color isn’t likely to come in contact with the scalp.
Avoid these treatments and you can rest assured that you won’t be putting your baby or yourself at risk. Besides, with that pregnancy glow, you are going to be a sight for sore eyes all by yourself.
Do you know of any other beauty treatments that expecting mothers should avoid? Let us know in the comments section.
