Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid While Pregnant? Here's What Experts Say

I’ve struggled with dry skin since forever and have some go-to products I use to ward it off. So when I found out I was expecting my first baby, I quickly dove into the ingredients lists in my medicine cabinet to make sure I’m using pregnancy-safe skincare. One ingredient that came up over and over again? Hyaluronic acid, the naturally occurring substance that acts as a powerful moisturizer.

So can you use hyaluronic acid while pregnant? I called my ob-gyn to find out, and thankfully, my creams and serums were still safe to use during pregnancy. There are a few things to know about using hyaluronic acid while pregnant, though—learn the details, ahead.

Key Takeaways

• What is hyaluronic acid? Your body naturally makes this slippery substance to help your body, skin and joints stay moisturized. It can also be produced for use in skincare products.
• Can you use hyaluronic acid when pregnant? It’s considered safe to use hyaluronic acid during pregnancy topically (such as in creams and serums). But stay away from injectable and oral forms.
• Benefits of using hyaluronic acid while pregnant: Hyaluronic acid is a powerful moisturizer that can help with dry skin, fine lines and even stretch-mark appearance.

Is Hyaluronic Acid Safe for Pregnancy?

Good news: hyaluronic acid in moisturizers and serums is generally considered safe for pregnancy, says Julie Lamppa, APRN, CNM, a nurse-midwife at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

“It’s a large molecule and won’t be absorbed into the bloodstream,” explains Dr. Cindy Wassef, MD, a dermatologist at Premier Health Associates in Randolph, New Jersey.

That said, there’s an important caveat: the safety of injectable and oral hyaluronic acid use during pregnancy hasn’t been studied, so doctors recommend avoiding.

By the way, your body naturally makes hyaluronic acid—it’s mainly in your eyes, joints and skin, notes Cleveland Clinic. But levels decline as you get older, and so adding the ingredient into your skincare routine can help restore moisture.

Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid While Pregnant

Dry skin during pregnancy is a common concern—and hyaluronic acid is a powerful moisturizer. “Its most useful property for the skin is that it holds onto up to 1,000 times its own weight in water, which can hydrate the skin,” Dr. Wassef explains. “This can help improve fine lines and dryness.”

Many people also say it can help minimize the look of stretch marks, soothe the skin and calm down irritation and redness.

Michelle Ventresca, a mom of one in Massachusetts, says she started using a serum with hyaluronic acid while pregnant. “Being pregnant through the winter, this serum was essential to my regimen for keeping my skin hydrated and limiting irritation during the drier months,” she says.

Are There Risks to Using Hyaluronic Acid While Pregnant?

While topical hyaluronic acid is considered safe during pregnancy, there are potential risks to using hyaluronic acid injectables, which are often used as cosmetic fillers. These haven’t been reviewed for safety during pregnancy, and Dr. Wassef explains that there’s a potential for infection and other complications.

You’ll also want to check the other ingredients in the product you’re using. While hyaluronic acid is safe to use while pregnant, it could be paired with other riskier or no-go ingredients.

Skincare Product Safety Tips During Pregnancy

Whether you’re looking to invest in a new routine or planning a deep dive into your medicine cabinet, here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to skin and skincare in pregnancy.

• Expect your skin to change. It’s common to experience pregnancy skin issues such as increased acne, melasma, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, visible veins, dry skin and general sensitivity. Don’t stress too much if your skin freaks out a bit—but talk to your provider if you’re concerned.
• Keep your skincare routine simple. Experts say to cleanse, moisturize and protect your skin from the sun with a pregnancy-safe sunscreen.
• Test it out. If you’re not sure whether you’ll react to a new ingredient, do a patch test on your skin to prevent irritation and allergic reactions… You can apply the product to a test spot twice for 7 to 10 days—if you don’t have a skin reaction after that, go ahead and use it.
• Talk to your provider. If you already use a certain skincare product, including prescription options, ask your provider if it’s okay to continue during pregnancy.
• Read the label. Check the ingredients on products you’re interested in to make sure they’re pregnancy-safe—including free or fragrances and harsh chemicals.

Other safe skincare ingredients

In addition to hyaluronic acid, there are plenty of safe skincare products for pregnancy. The following are examples of other common active ingredients that are considered safe for pregnancy:

• Niacinamide: Strengthens the skin’s barrier while tamping down oil production
• Ceramides: Nourish, hydrate and maintain skin barrier
• Azelaic acid: Targets acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation
• Collagen: Hydrates and softens skin
• Peptides: Firm, smooth and repair skin
• Vitamin C: An antioxidant that brightens, protects from environmental damage and helps reduce fine lines
• Squalane: Deeply hydrates and soothes inflammation
• Benzoyl peroxide: Kills acne-causing bacteria and calms skin inflammation
• Salicylic acid: Helps fight acne by dissolving oil and shedding the dead skin cells that clog pores during pregnancy
• Glycolic acid: Exfoliates skin to brighten skin tone

Unsafe skincare ingredients

On the other hand, experts say that these are skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy:

• Retinoids
• Tetracycline
• Hydroquinone
• Botox
• Adapalene gel
• Phthalates and parabens
• Chemical sunscreens
• Triclosan

To Sum It Up

It’s generally considered safe to use hyaluronic acid while pregnant, provided you stick to the topical formula and stay away from the injectable or oral forms. So slather on that rich moisturizer—but make sure to ask your provider if you have any questions about skincare ingredients during pregnancy.

How We Developed This Article

Many expectant moms wonder if their existing skincare routine is okay to continue, including products with hyaluronic acid. To help provide clear guidance on using hyaluronic acid while pregnant, we spoke with a board-certified dermatologist and a midwife who regularly counsel their patients on pregnancy-safe skincare. We also connected with real moms to learn how they used hyaluronic acid during pregnancy. After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our ob-gyn medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Korin Miller is a mom of four who was admittedly paranoid about using the wrong skincare products during her first pregnancy. (She relaxed a little more with time and was happy to find out that hyaluronic acid was still a go!) An experienced health and pregnancy writer and parent, Korin adds her personal touch and experience to each article she writes. Her work has appeared in publications such as Women’s Health, Prevention, Cosmopolitan and The Washington Post.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.