Skin Care

Beauty Salon Treatments for Pregnant Women:

Many salons have developed special facials and body treatments for pregnant women. It can be a big relief for a pregnant woman to treat herself, pamper her skin and body at a beauty salon especially if she is experiencing such effects associated with pregnancy as tired, swollen legs, achy back, very dry or acne skin.

However there are certain beauty salon treatments that a pregnant woman should avoid as well as certain skin-care ingredients commonly used during facials but not recommended for pregnant women.

Facials during Pregnancy:

Any type of intensive or invasive skin-care procedures are prohibited. Remember, during pregnancy your skin characteristics change so it can heal slower or pigment easier after an intensive treatment. Besides, many topically applied chemicals during a facial can penetrate through the skin into your blood stream.
Do not take skin-treatments involving injections as whatever is injected will go into your blood stream and can reach the fetus.
It is also not recommended to have dermabrasion during pregnancy. No chemical peeling is allowed either.
Salicylic acid and retinoids can be often used in anti-acne or anti-aging facial treatments. However as discussed in the previous articles on pregnancy skin care, it is recommended to avoid these ingredients in any skin-care procedures.

Avoid any physiotherapeutic skin treatments like for example D’arsenval type skin-care treatments that involve using high-frequency current for skin disinfection after skin clean up or for skin stimulation.

SPA, Massages, Body Treatments:

Doctors recommend avoiding any procedures involving high temperatures. So your doctor will probably tell you that you cannot treat yourself to a sauna, attend a sun-tan studio or have any body treatment that involves high temperature.
If you decide to get a massage, make sure your therapist has knowledge and experience needed to work with pregnant women as there are certain spots in the body located on the hands and feet that are believed to stimulate labor if massaged; make sure your masseur knows that those are to be avoided.

Manicures, Nail extensions and Artificial Nails

It is not recommended to get nail extensions or artificial nails during pregnancy. Some of the chemicals involved into this cosmetic procedure can be absorbed through the skin and could potentially reach fetus. The risk of any possible damage will be increased by inhaling chemical fumes.

Dying Your Hair:

Some studies have shown that chemicals from hair dye are found in a woman’s urine hours after hair-dying. This is because certain chemicals can get into the blood system by penetrating scalp skin. It is not known what potential harm these chemicals as well as chemical fumes the pregnant woman will be exposed to during the procedure can cause to the fetus.

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