Is vitamin C serum safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about vitamin C serum during pregnancy?

1. Vitamin C is required for collagen biosynthesis, and the recommended dietary allowance in pregnancy is 85 mg a day for adults 19 and over, with a tolerable upper intake level of 2,000 mg. 1
2. Chemically modified vitamin C derivatives were developed specifically to improve the stability and percutaneous absorption of topical vitamin C, which is limited in its plain L-ascorbic acid form. 2
3. Only a small amount of a topical skincare product is absorbed through intact skin, and absorption rises when skin is broken or a large area is covered. 3
4. ACOG lists benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, topical salicylic acid, and glycolic acid as over-the-counter skincare ingredients that can be used in pregnancy, and advises checking anything outside that list with your ob-gyn. 4
5. Pregnancy brings an altered response to UV light and a higher chance of pigment changes such as melasma and linea nigra, and broad-spectrum sunscreen is the mainstay for limiting both pigment shifts and UV damage to skin DNA. 5

Is vitamin C serum safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. No restriction specific to this trimester. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient your body regulates closely, and topical forms stay largely in the upper layers of skin.
• Second trimester. Often when people go looking for it, because melasma tends to surface now. Pair it with broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning, which does the heavier lifting on pigment.
• Third trimester. Fine to continue. If skin turns reactive, a lower strength or a gentler vitamin C derivative is easier to tolerate than pushing through stinging.