Can I Use Hyaluronic Acid While Breastfeeding?
Pregnancy is an exciting and important experience. Everyone experiences it differently but one thing that’s for sure is that you will see many changes in your body that may occur during pregnancy and postpartum. One of those changes may be related to your skin. You’ll, of course, see changes due to weight increase, but you may also notice your face seems drier or you may even start to experience new acne breakouts. If you consider trying any hyaluronic acid while breastfeeding, there are a few things that you should know.
Not all skincare products are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You may have already heard of hyaluronic acid, also known as HA. Many products that are marketed as moisturizers have hyaluronic acid in them. You can even get hyaluronic acid in the form of an oil or serum without any added ingredients.
It may have seemed like the latest skincare trend a few years ago but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Just like with anything else, just because it’s become popular doesn’t mean hyaluronic acid while breastfeeding is necessarily safe. So, is it safe to use while breastfeeding? Let’s find out!
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What is Hyaluronic Acid?
If you look up hyaluronic acid, you’ll find that it’s advertised as a product that will give your skin an immediate plumped-up look and make it glow.
What is this magical product?
It’s actually something that your body produces naturally. It’s a clear and gooey substance that helps maintain your skin’s natural hydration. It essentially traps moisture inside your cells.
Hyaluronic acid also works at keeping the moisture in your joints and eyes.
So, if it’s naturally present in your body, why add it to your skin if you already have it?
Well, just like other natural substances in your body, such as collagen, the amount of hyaluronic acid you can produce yourself naturally decreases over time as you get older. This is why applying hyaluronic acid to your skin can be very beneficial.
Hyaluronic Acid Uses
Hyaluronic acid is used in many different ways. It’s popping up on the labels of more and more skincare products.
In skincare, it is used to moisturize and reduce the look of wrinkles. It also helps give skin a plump and healthy look. It can be used topically, by injection, or orally.
Injections may be used on your face or lips. They have also been used to help reduce pain in the joints. Injecting hyaluronic acid directly into a knee joint, for example, may help reduce pain and improve mobility.
Hyaluronic acid has also been used as eye drops to help relieve dry eyes and encourage moisture to stay on the surface of the eyes.
Your skin, joints, and eyes are areas where hyaluronic acid is already present so adding more helps provide a boost to those areas when they need it.
Hyaluronic Acid Benefits
Hyaluronic acid supports your skin’s moisture. It helps not only in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, but it can also help reduce the appearance of scars caused by acne. To do this, it does not fill in the scars themselves but does reduce any redness and makes acne scars appear less visible.
For lips, it can be used two different ways; topically or by injection. When used topically, hyaluronic acid has the same function as for your skin. It helps retain moisture at the surface of your lips helping them appear fuller, plumper, and nicely moisturized. When injected as a filler, it gives your lips a fuller and plumper appearance for a longer period. The fillers started working immediately and can last up to 7 months. It does, however, take a day or two to heal since needles are used for the injections.
Hyaluronic Acid and Breastfeeding
Is Hyaluronic Acid Safe for Breastfeeding Moms?
Not all skincare products are safe to use while breastfeeding. It’s important to be aware of what products have high absorption rates and are more likely to end up in your bloodstream. Common products that breastfeeding moms avoid include anything with salicylic acid or retinoids. But what about Hyaluronic acid while breastfeeding – Is it safe?
A couple of studies including one from Harvard Health, “The Hype on Hyaluronic Acid”, explain that topical HA is generally well tolerated, which means that it is usually doesn’t cause an allergic reaction or irritate sensitive skin and therefore safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
According to another article that includes an interview with dermatology experts, such as Dr. Michelle Park of Washington Square Dermatology, hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in our body’s tissues, and therefore moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
So, we can understand that topical hyaluronic acid is safe while breastfeeding, but what about hyaluronic acid injections and oral hyaluronic acid supplements?
Hyaluronic Acid Injections While Breastfeeding
What about using hyaluronic acid injections during breastfeeding? Perhaps you were using them before and would like to continue your treatments. While using hyaluronic acid while breastfeeding is generally considered safe since it does not absorb into the bloodstream, not enough studies have been conducted to determine whether injecting hyaluronic acid is safe while pregnant or breastfeeding. The same goes with oral hyaluronic acid supplements. It’s best to avoid these types of treatments completely until you have stopped breastfeeding. Until then, if you feel comfortable doing so, you can likely safely use it topically as a serum or in your moisturizer to help relieve dry and itchy skin and to help reduce the look of scars.
Hyaluronic Acid Side Effects
Side effects are very rare when using hyaluronic acid. When they do happen, they present as an allergic reaction. Your body reacts to the hyaluronic acid thinking is a foreign substance that it has to fight off. This is according to a study made available by the PMC US National Library of Medicine. Fillers or injections have a low risk of long-term effects. If you’ve used hyaluronic acid before, you will already know whether or not you will have an allergic reaction. It’s safer to stay away from trying brand new products while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Best Hyaluronic acid Products for Breastfeeding Moms
If you would like to use hyaluronic acid while breastfeeding, here are some great products for you to consider. A great option for a low budget is the hyaluronic acid 2% + B5 by the Ordinary.
B5 is also safe while breastfeeding. This product is an oil that you can add to your current skincare routine to give your skin an added boost of hydration. The best thing about a product that’s so simple is that you know exactly what’s in it and don’t have to worry about any additional reactions or potential issues. If you’re looking for more a lotion or a cream, a great option is Peter Thomas Roth’s cream.
They offer great products that have hyaluronic acid and can be used on your face and body.
Bottom Line,
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what makes you feel safe. After reading this, you may decide to stay away from hyaluronic acid while breastfeeding injections, and that’s OK. If you’re already familiar with topical hyaluronic acid products and already use them without any reaction, then you may choose to continue your usual routine. The most important thing is that you’ve made a decision you feel comfortable with.
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