AVOID RETINOL USE IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CONCEIVE.

Retinol and Retinoids are IN! - They are the latest rave in skin care.

Yes - they are derived from Vitamin A and may seem harmless to use but if you are trying to conceive (TTC) or pregnant you will have a rethink after reading this post.

Millions of people swear on the immense benefits of using retinols/retinoids (skin texture, renewal,pigmentation and anti-aging) but we do not see /hear enough warnings on their side effects.

A lot of people suffer from peeling, redness, and irritation that are common onset reactions for some people when they first start to use topical retinol, but did you know that it may not the worst side effects of using these products.

It’s time to put this out there- in fact in developed climes, retinoids are PRESCRIBED with CONTRACEPTIVES.

In Nigeria- “supposed” prescription retinoids are easy to purchase online with no associates warnings by young women who many times are TTC.

Despite the low risk associated with topical use of retinol and birth defects when pregnant, experts still suggest pregnant women avoid applying vitamin A-based formulations to their skin during pregnancy.

If you have used a cosmetic containing a retinol during pregnancy, there’s no need to panic. Stop using the product immediately.

Don’t forget to ALWAYS Read the ingredients list on every product before you buy.

A healthy baby trumps everything 🤰

Please DO NOT USE RETINOIDS if you are trying to get pregnant or know you are pregnant.

RETINOL AND RETINOIDS

RETINOIDS ARE A CLASS OF COMPOUNDS THAT DERIVE FROM VITAMIN A. THEY HAVE MANY USES IN COSMETICS TO HELP REDUCE WRINKLES AND SIGNS OF AGING. IT' IS USUALLY A PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE. RETINOL IS A RETINOID SUBTYPE BUT UNLIKE RETINOIDS THAT REQUIRE A PRESCRIPTION, RETINOL IS SOLD OVER THE COUNTER AS AN INGREDIENT IN SKIN CREAMS, GELS, SERUMS, LOTIONS, AND MORE.

DON'T USE THEM IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CONCEIVE

TOPICAL RETINOIDS REFER TO CREAMS, GELS, AND LIQUIDS THAT PEOPLE CAN DIRECTLY APPLY TO THE SKIN, THEY SHOULD ALSO NOT BE USED IF YOU ARE TTC OR PREGNANT. RETINOLS ARE ALSO NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE BECAUSE WHILE USED TOPICALLY - ON YOUR SKIN, THEY CAN BE ABSORBED INTO THE BLOODSTREAM AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO VITAMIN A TOXICITY.

WHATS THE HYPE?

AS DERIVATIVES OF VITAMIN A, THEY OFFER SEVERAL BENEFITS, SUCH AS REDUCING INFLAMMATION, UNCLOGGING PORES, DECREASING THE APPEARANCE OF WRINKLES, AND REGULATING THE GROWTH OF CELLS ON THE SKIN'S SURFACE. MORE POTENT RETINOIDS MAY HELP TREAT SKIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PSORIASIS, ACNE AND PIGMENTARY DISORDERS.

IN ORDER WORDS, THEY HAVE ANTI-AGING AND ANTI-ACNE EFFECTS. THEY ALSO BOOST THE PRODUCTION OF COLLAGEN AND ELASTIN DEEP WITHIN THE INNER LAYER OF SKIN (DERMIS). INCREASED COLLAGEN MAY REDUCE FINE LINES AND WRINKLES, AND MAY MAKE MATURE SKIN LOOK SMOOTHER. MANY PEOPLE SWEAR BY THEM.

SO WHY THE WARNING?

MEDICATIONS CONTAINING RETINOIDS, LIKE ISOTRETINOIN ABSORICA, DIFFIRIN, CLARAVIS, AMNESTEEM, MYORISAN, ZENATANE ( FORMERLY CALLED ACCUTANE), HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE A CONDITION IN THE FETUS CALLED FETAL RETINOID SYNDROME (ERS) THAT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS BIRTH DEFECTS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD YOU USE THESE PRESCRIPTION RETINOIDS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CONCEIVE OR YOU ARE PREGNANT.

FETAL RETINOID SYNDROME CAN CAUSE

• GROWTH DELAYS BEFORE BIRTH OR DURING
  INFANCY
• SKULL AND FACIAL MALFORMATIONS (CRANIOFACIAL), CLEFT PALATE AND HYPERTELORISM (WIDELY SPACED EYES
• SMALL, LOW SET EARS, MISSING EARS, AND HEARING LOSS
• HYDROCEPHALUS
• DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND LEARNING
  DISABILITIES
• MICROCEPHALY
• HEART ABNORMALITIES

DON'T USE THEM IF YOU ARE TTC

TOPICAL RETINOIDS REFER TO CREAMS, GELS, AND LIOUIDS THAT PEOPLE CAN DIRECTLY APPLY TO THE SKIN, THEY SHOULD ALSO NOT BE USED IF YOU ARE TTC OR PREGNANT. RETINOLS ARE ALSO NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE BECAUSE WHILE USED TOPICALLY - ON YOUR SKIN, THEY CAN BE ABSORBED INTO THE BLOODSTREAM AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO VITAMIN A TOXICITY.

ALTERNATIVES

THERE ARE MANY PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS TO RETINOL THAT ARE SAFE FOR USE WHEN YOU ARE TTC OR PREGNANT. AN EXAMPLE IS BAKUCHIOL, WHICH IS A RETINOL "ALTERNATIVE'-IT'S A NATURAL, VEGAN INGREDIENT DERIVED FROM THE PSORALEA CORYLIFOLIA PLANT.

BAKUCHIOL HAS ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES SIMILAR TO RETINOL, WHICH MAKES IT A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO TREAT SIGNS OF AGING LIKE FINE LINES, WRINKLES, AND UNEVEN TONE." THE INGREDIENT CAN ALSO HELP TO FIRM SKIN AND REDUCE THE SIZE OF PORES.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES INCLUDE:

• GLYCOLIC ACID, AN ALPHA-HYDROXY ACID THAT EXFOLIATES THE SKIN AND HAS ACNE BENEFITS
• AZELAIC ACID, ANOTHER ACNE TREATMENT THAT CONTAINS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES
• HYALURONIC ACID, WHICH CAN HELP REDUCE WRINKLES AND HYDRATE SKIN

#thehealthplace_ #birthdefects#retinoids #retinol #gratefulheart