Bleaching products are used for lighting skin and hair. However, if you are planning to use bleach in pregnancy, you need to exercise caution. Even though effects of bleach on your little one have not been established yet, there are many reasons why you must stay away from bleaching during pregnancy. Some of the effects such as hyper skin sensitivity, defects in animals and melasma are some of the most common ones.
What Does Skin Bleaching Products Contain?
Skin bleaches are known to contain hydroquinone that is grouped under the category C. Those grouped under this are known to pose health risk to animals. Some of the results include deformities,
birth defects or low birth weight in animals.
What Happens to Skin During Pregnancy?
Women may face many
skin problems during pregnancy. Pregnancy mask or melasma is a common pregnancy symptom that results in skin darkening. This is a result of skin darkening that appears on the face, pubic bone and the belly button in particular. This change in skin has been induced by pregnancy. You shall be able to get rid of them after delivery and the surrounding areas shall appear lighter. So, you must refrain from using any kind of skin bleaching products to lighten them during these precious nine months.
Why You Should Not Bleach Your Skin or Hair during Pregnancy?
With surge of hormones you may get allergic to cleansers, detergent and laundry detergents. Body sprays and fragrance can also result in irritation. So, you can very well understand if you get sensitive to such mild agents what harm the bleach can cause to you. Some of the common side effects include oedema, discoloration of the skin, irritation and crusting of the skin.
You must also refrain from bleaching when you are breastfeeding. If these bleaches are absorbed by your skin, it may also reach your breastmilk and your baby might ingest hydroquinone. Even though there is not much evidence on this, dermatologists generally suggest to stay away from such chemicals while breastfeeding.
Symptoms of Bleach Poisoning
Here are some poisoning symptoms of skin bleaching that you must be aware of.
You must stop bleaching if you experience any of them and also get in touch with your doctor at the earliest. Prompt medical advice is necessary in these cases. Doctors shall generally suggest you to sit upright and drink plenty of water. You shall also be advised to remove your contact lenses to ensure there are no chemicals trapped in there. However, there is no need to trigger the panic button, as your doctor shall be able to take necessary actions to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
Natural Solutions for Bleaching
In case you are too keen on going for bleach, here are some natural measures that you can consider. However, you must also seek your doctor’s approval before using them. Take a look and avoid them if you are allergic to any of the below mentioned ingredients.
You can make a mixture with lemon and honey to make a natural solution.
You can use juice from tomato to lighten the facial
hair.
Papaya pulp along with milk can also be another good bleaching solution.
It is very important you understand your hair and skin type. The way your skin absorbs shall be different from another individual. Since in pregnancy hormonal changes are another factor, you need to be extra cautious.
You must keep in mind that bleach is a chemical substance and thus consulting your doctor is highly recommended. Also, it is important you get in touch with a professional to get your bleach work done. Ask for good quality products only and check the expiry. These are some safety tips that shall minimise any bad effects. But to be on the safer side it is better to avoid using bleach on your skin or hair during your precious pregnancy period.
