February 2003
Dear Paula,
As an obstetrician, mother of two, and a beauty aficionado, I am writing in response to Liz's letter (featured in the September 2002 issue of your newsletter) regarding which cosmetic ingredients to avoid while pregnant. It is the published opinion of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology that using hair color is safe during pregnancy. Corresponding to that, it is common sense that anything you apply to your skin or scalp cannot be absorbed in any sufficient quantity to affect the fetus. Obviously, retinoids like Renova, Avita, and Retin-A should be avoided because of their relation to Accutane, which is a serious known teratogen. Beyond that, there is absolutely no evidence that hair-coloring products or any other topically applied product can cause any fetal damage. Therefore, with regard to over-the-counter cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, I wouldn’t change a skin-care or makeup regimen one bit during pregnancy. Of course, the patient's own physician should evaluate any prescription medication prior to its use during pregnancy, but I can't think of any reason to veto most topical products. I hope this information helps your readers concerned with this issue!

Dr. Ellen Farkas, Roslyn, New York

Dear Dr. Farkas,
Thank you very much for your feedback. I concur with your statements, as evidenced by my response to Liz,. and I certainly appreciate the professional support for my comments. It's unfortunate that more obstetricians and gynecologists are not as self-assured as you are when it comes time to discuss this matter with their pregnant patients. The number of questions I receive on this very topic tells me there are a lot of expectant mothers out there who now approach their cosmetics with a great deal of confusion and/or fear. Although the majority of this fear is unfounded, it is immeasurably helpful when a pregnant woman can bring her concerns to her attending physician and be reassured that she is not doing anything in the name of vanity (or even basic grooming) that will negatively affect her baby. As I stated in my response to Liz, the issue of a pregnant woman’s exposure to cigarette smoke and consumption of alcoholic beverages is of far greater concern than what cosmetics she applies to her skin and hair.