The Pregnancy-Safe Acne Treatments Experts Recommend

glamour.com:

can happen at any point during your life, they can be especially tricky to deal with when you’re pregnant, since some of the most powerful acne treatments are off-limits. (The same goes if you’re breastfeeding, too—just FYI.)It’s something I’ve been experiencing firsthand while pregnant with my first child, and I was lucky that dermatologist , who practices at Idriss Dermatology in New York City, was able to prescribe me topical azelaic acid (a pregnancy-safe option for acne) when pregnancy was just an idea taking shape on the horizon.Even so, my new breakouts threw me for a loop.

In fact, I only took a pregnancy test because I started breaking out on my neck, which was definitely not my typical hormonal acne—and once I did, I had to rethink my entire skin-care routine.

With that in mind, here's what you need to know about pregnancy-safe acne treatments.Technically, pregnancy acne can be considered a subset of hormonal acne thanks to progesterone, a type of androgen. “High levels of progesterone are produced during pregnancy,” says , a dermatologist in New York City. “Progesterone stimulates increased sebum production, and this can lead to increased breakouts.” For that reason, pregnancy acne tends to appear in the same area as, say, the clogged pores you get before your period—think around your chin and jawline.

However, they can go beyond that, too. “Sometimes, it can be more widespread and affect the neck, chest, and back also,” says , a dermatologist in Aventura, Florida.The natural hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy hit everyone a little differently.