When you become pregnant, your body undergoes significant changes, and your skin is no exception. Thanks to a huge wave of new hormones, many women suddenly experience dark patches on their face (called melasma or the “mask of pregnancy”) or painful acne breakouts. To treat these problems, many people turn to their favorite skincare products, including toners and serums containing glycolic acid.
But when you are growing a baby, every single thing you put on your body matters. Glycolic acid is generally safe to use during pregnancy, but only in low amounts. According to Healthline, over-the-counter products containing 10% or less of this acid are perfectly safe for most expectant mothers to use at home. However, strong chemical peels done at a doctor’s office should be avoided until after your baby is born. Understanding how this skincare ingredient works will help you maintain a safe, healthy pregnancy glow.
The science behind glycolic acid
“Glycolic acid belongs to a family of natural skin chemicals called Alpha Hydroxy Acids, or AHAs for short. It is naturally made from sweet sugar cane,” says Tunde Rasheed, B.Sc. Researcher. Out of all the different AHAs, glycolic acid has the absolute smallest shape. Because it is so tiny, it easily penetrates the top layer of your skin. Once it is inside, it acts like tiny scissors, cutting the invisible glue that holds dead, dull skin cells together.
When that glue is broken, the dead skin cells wash down the drain easily, leaving fresh, bright and smooth skin behind. It also signals your body to produce more collagen, the bouncy protein that keeps your skin looking plump and youthful.
Why safety is a concern
When you are pregnant, you have to think about a process called “systemic absorption.” This means that when you rub a cream or a chemical onto your skin, a tiny amount of it can soak through your skin layers, enter your blood vessels and eventually travel down to the growing baby in your womb.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), anything that enters the mother’s blood has the potential to cross the placenta. Because healthcare providers cannot ethically test harsh chemicals on pregnant women, they have to be extremely careful.
If a mother uses a massive amount of a very strong acid, there is a worry that too much could reach the baby. This is why medical experts set strict rules on exactly how much acid is safe to put on your face.
Risks and side effects
Even though low amounts of glycolic acid will not harm your baby, the acid can still cause some annoying problems for your own face during these nine months.
Pregnancy stretches your skin and changes your immune system, making your face much more sensitive than it used to be. A gentle acid toner you used every day before you got pregnant might now suddenly cause bright red patches, stinging or peeling skin, Healthline explains.
Also, glycolic acid removes the protective dead skin cells from your face. This leaves your fresh, new skin completely exposed to the sun. Because pregnancy hormones already make you very likely to get dark sun spots, using this acid without wearing a thick layer of sunscreen can actually make your dark spots much worse.
Who should avoid glycolic acid?
If you are currently navigating skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, your skin barrier is already in a vulnerable, inflamed state. Applying a potent acid to an impaired barrier is like pouring salt on a wound; it can lead to intense stinging, chemical burns and even long-term scarring.
Expectant mothers need to be particularly selective. While many dermatologists suggest that low-concentration, over-the-counter products (typically under 10%) are safe, high-percentage professional peels are a strict “no.” During pregnancy, hormonal shifts can make your skin significantly more reactive and prone to hyperpigmentation (melasma). A deep chemical peel is too aggressive for a body that is already undergoing intense physiological changes.
Safer alternatives
If your skin is too sensitive for glycolic acid right now, you do not have to give up on having a clear face. There are wonderful, pregnancy-safe choices that are much gentler.
Lactic Acid: Another AHA, made from milk. It is much larger than glycolic acid, so it does not penetrate the skin as deeply. This means it gently cleans the surface without causing deep redness or burning.
Azelaic Acid: According to PubMed Central, azelaic acid is one of the safest and most highly recommended treatments for pregnancy acne and dark spots. It is found naturally in wheat and barley. It kills the harmful germs that cause pimples and safely signals the skin to stop producing dark pigment.
Because your pregnancy hormones can make your skin unpredictable, never put a new acid all over your face right away. Take one small drop of the product and rub it onto the skin right behind your ear or on the inside of your wrist. Wait a full 24 hours. If there is no itchy red rash the next day, it is safe to try a small amount on your face!
What acids cannot be used during pregnancy?
There are certain skincare acids you must absolutely throw away the moment you find out you are pregnant.
The most dangerous ones are Retinoic acids (commonly called Retinol, Retin-A or Accutane). A PubMed Central publication strictly warns that these strong Vitamin A acids can enter the bloodstream and cause severe congenital disabilities in the baby’s brain and heart. You should also be very careful with high amounts of Salicylic acid (a BHA). While tiny amounts in a daily face wash are usually okay, taking it in pill form or using strong salicylic peels is not safe for the baby.
How to exfoliate your face while pregnant
To safely scrub away dead skin and keep your face glowing, you have two simple choices.
You can use a “chemical” exfoliator, meaning a safe, low-dose liquid like 5% lactic acid or azelaic acid, a few nights a week. Or, you can use a “physical” exfoliator. This means gently scrubbing your face with a soft, warm washcloth, or using a very mild face scrub made with soft oatmeal or tiny sugar crystals. Just remember to scrub very gently, as if you were washing a delicate piece of silk, so you do not tear your sensitive skin.
“Glycolic acid has an excellent safety profile for use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists approves the use of over-the-counter topical products with glycolic acid,” says Dr. Rachel Maiman, board-certified dermatologist with Marmur Medical.
Bottom line
Glycolic acid is generally safe to use during pregnancy as long as you use over-the-counter products that contain a concentration of 10% or less. Because pregnancy makes your skin highly sensitive and prone to dark spots, you must watch for signs of redness and always wear broad-spectrum daily sunscreen. If you want a gentler option to fight pregnancy acne and melasma, switching to azelaic or lactic acid is a wonderful, baby-safe alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to clear up acne in pregnancy?
Azelaic acid and low-dose topical treatments, along with a gentle daily cleanser, are considered the safest and most effective ways to treat pregnancy breakouts without harming the baby.
What can I use to brighten my face while pregnant?
Vitamin C serums and azelaic acid are safe, excellent choices for fading dark patches and brightening dull skin while you are expecting.
Citations
Larson J. Is Glycolic Acid Safe During Pregnancy? Healthline. Published September 29, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/glycolic-acid-pregnancy
Almeman AA. Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids in Dermatological Practice: A Comprehensive Clinical and Legal Review. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2024;17:1661-1685. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S453243
Mitro SD, Johnson T, Zota AR. Cumulative Chemical Exposures During Pregnancy and Early Development. Current environmental health reports. 2015;2(4):367-378. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-015-0064-x
Cherney K. Glowing Skin During Pregnancy: Why It Happens. Healthline. Published November 26, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy-glow
Ly S, Kamal K, Manjaly P, Barbieri JS, Mostaghimi A. Treatment of Acne Vulgaris During Pregnancy and Lactation: A Narrative Review. Dermatology and Therapy. 2022;13(1):115-130. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-022-00854-3
Abadie RB, Staples A, Lauck LV, et al. Vitamin A-Mediated Birth Defects: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2023;15(12). doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.50513
