Pregnancy-Safe Med Spa Treatments & Skincare: What’s Generally Okay vs. What to Avoid

In the spirit of Mother’s Day coming up, I thought this would be a great topic. We get this question often - what treatments and products are actually SAFE to do during pregnancy? As a Board-Certified Physician Associate, I always stick to what is evidence-based and researched. Please be careful -- what you see/hear on sources that may not be as credible as you think.

Pregnancy is a time to be extra selective about both in-office treatments and at-home skincare. The safest overall approach is to stick with gentle, non-invasive treatments and avoid elective procedures or products with limited safety data. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, aka ACOG, lists several topical acne ingredients that can be used during pregnancy, including azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, topical salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. Retinoids are generally avoided, and oral isotretinoin, aka Accutane, is strongly contraindicated in pregnancy.

Generally considered pregnancy-safe

These are the options most providers feel comfortable with when used appropriately during pregnancy:

Gentle facials

Hydrating, soothing facials without aggressive acids, retinoids, or devices are usually the safest med spa option during pregnancy. The goal should be barrier support, hydration, and calming inflammation rather than intense correction.

Topical Skincare That is Generally Considered Acceptable:

ACOG supports certain topical ingredients during pregnancy, including:

• Azelaic acid

• Benzoyl peroxide

• Glycolic acid

• Topical salicylic acid in typical OTC use and as directed (low concentration only, <2%)

  • Source: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/skin-conditions-during-pregnancy

Supportive Skincare

Simple, non-medicated products such as gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreen are a good foundation. Sunscreens have been used during pregnancy without reported adverse events, and many clinicians favor mineral sunscreens as a conservative approach. We have gone ALL mineral sunscreen at Benway - so I could not agree more! It's safer for acne and melasma (chemical sunscreens can actually trigger acne and exacerbate melasma), it's safe post-procedure (if you have ever used chemical sunscreen the day after a laser - OUCH!), and it reduces chemical exposure to the body. Mineral is the way to go! We carry Skinbetter’s Tone Smart, Revision’s Intellishade TruPhysical Clear & Tinted, and my current favorite (but I LOVE them all), Alastin’s Hydratint.

Treatments and products best avoided or postponed

Because pregnancy safety data are limited for many aesthetic treatments, most elective cosmetic procedures are deferred until after pregnancy. For any procedures that involve numbing with topical or injectable lidocaine, these are considered safe, but it’s still recommended to use the least possible amount. Less is more, here.

Retinoids/Retinol

Topical retinoids such as tretinoin and adapalene are generally avoided during pregnancy. Oral isotretinoin is absolutely contraindicated because it can cause major birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth, and fetal death.

Botox & Dermal Filler

There is limited pregnancy-specific safety data for cosmetic botulinum toxin and fillers, so these are usually postponed out of caution. Reviews note that evidence is insufficient to routinely recommend fillers in pregnancy. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5418954/

Laser Hair Removal, IPL, and Other Cosmetic Lasers

Even though some reviews have not shown clear fetal harm, cosmetic laser treatments are generally not recommended during pregnancy because of limited data and because these are elective procedures. ACOG specifically suggests sticking with shaving, waxing, and tweezing for hair removal during pregnancy.

Medium/Deep Chemical Peels and Stronger Peel Blends

Superficial glycolic or lactic acid peels may be lower risk, but stronger peels — especially salicylic acid peels, TCA peels, Jessner-type blends, or large-area/high-strength applications — are approached cautiously or deferred.

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is usually avoided in pregnancy because significantly more of it is absorbed through the skin than many other topical ingredients.

GLP-1s, Peptides & Weightloss Medications

If you’re pregnant—or trying to conceive—it’s important to pause certain treatments, including GLP-1 medications and most peptides.

GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide and tirzepatide) are not recommended during pregnancy. There isn’t enough human safety data, and animal studies have shown potential risks to fetal development. For that reason, these medications should be discontinued prior to conception and avoided throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The same cautious approach applies to peptide therapies. While many peptides are used for wellness, recovery, or anti-aging, most have not been studied in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Because of this lack of safety data, they are generally not recommended during pregnancy.

Our Approach

At Benway Beauty, we always prioritize safety first. During pregnancy, we focus on treatments and products that are well-established, gentle, and supportive, and we help you transition back to your full regimen safely postpartum.

A good rule of thumb is:

Okay to focus on during pregnancy: hydration, calming facials, barrier repair, gentle acne care, and sun protection.

Better to wait on: injectables, lasers, aggressive peels, retinoids, hydroquinone, and anything elective with limited pregnancy safety data.

Pregnancy-safe med spa care should stay gentle and supportive. We typically focus on hydrating facials, barrier-repair skincare, sunscreen, and select pregnancy-compatible topical ingredients, such as azelaic acid, glycolic acid, and limited-use benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. During pregnancy, we generally postpone Botox, filler, laser treatments, stronger chemical peels, retinoids, and hydroquinone out of an abundance of caution.

Disclaimer: Because every pregnancy is different, clients should always review treatments and products with their OB or prenatal provider before starting or continuing them.

If you ever want more information, just book a consultation with me, Anastasia Peterson, PA-C, or Carlee, Licensed Esthetician, and we can steer you in the safest direction. Book at BenwayBeauty.com or call/text us 515-216-0033.

Thanks for reading!

Your PA, Anastasia <3