Is retinol, retinoids, and vitamin-a skincare safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about retinol, retinoids, and vitamin-a skincare during pregnancy?

1. Oral isotretinoin is one of the most well-documented human teratogens, with a clear pattern of major birth defects, which is why the iPLEDGE program requires reliable birth control during and after use. 1
2. Topical prescription retinoids like tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene absorb into the bloodstream only in small amounts, but pregnancy safety data is still limited, so standard guidance is to avoid them as a precaution. 1
3. Topical tretinoin's FDA label includes a pregnancy warning, and oral vitamin A above 10,000 IU a day has been linked to birth defects, which is the underlying reason the whole retinol family raises concern. 2
4. The pregnancy upper intake limit for preformed vitamin A (retinol) is 3,000 mcg, or 10,000 IU, a day, which is a good reason to check your prenatal label and avoid stacking on more vitamin A through skincare. 3

Is retinol, retinoids, and vitamin-a skincare safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. This is the most sensitive window. Ideally, stop any topical retinoid and oral isotretinoin before you even conceive. That's why isotretinoin comes with a required program, called iPLEDGE, that requires reliable birth control while you're using it.
• Second trimester. Keep avoiding these products. Talk to your provider before using any topical retinoid.
• Third trimester. Keep avoiding these products. Alternatives for acne or anti-aging, like azelaic acid or low-strength glycolic acid, are usually worth reviewing with your provider instead.