Think about everything you put on your skin and hair, from when you step in the shower to when you step out your front door. We use a ton of products every single day; shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving cream, lotions, face wash, toner, moisturizer, deodorant, sunscreen, makeup, hair products. All of those products you use add up to a very long list of chemicals you introduce to your body. Pregnancy is a period during which you want to be cautious about the chemicals you expose yourself to because some of those chemicals have the potential to cross the placenta and reach your baby. The idea that you could potentially expose your baby to something toxic is scary, and there is a lot of fear around using safe skincare and personal products when you are pregnant. You should avoid a few ingredients and be aware of other controversial ingredients with less clear evidence on the risks. This episode breaks down the evidence on what ingredients have risks that you should be mindful of, how to find safe skin and body care products, and how to understand marketing claims like “non-toxic”.

You can read the full article and resources that accompany this episode by clicking here.

For more evidence-based information, visit the Pregnancy Podcast website.