Beauty Procedures and Pregnancy
What's Safe and What's Not?

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

There are a large number of products and procedures that carry the warning, “Consult physician before use if pregnant or nursing.” This includes everything from vitamins, lotions, herbal products and numerous beauty products to tanning, saunas and hair treatments. Women often worry about what will and will not harm their unborn baby, including procedures and products they normally use. How dangerous are these products to pregnant women? The warnings are there – but are the dangers real?

Massage Madness
Pregnant women often have aches and pains, and massage offers soothing relief – even if only temporarily. But what danger does massage hold for an expectant mother? According to Tony Deckard, a licensed massage and bodywork therapist from Asheville, N.C., the benefits of a massage during pregnancy far outweigh the risks.

“There is a theory that there are pressure points in the webbing of the hands and feet that can stimulate labor, especially during the later months,” says Deckard. “Although this theory has not been concretely proven, it is best that these points should be avoided. The abdomen is avoided simply for the mother’s comfort, as the little ones usually don’t like the massage and begin kicking, making Mom uncomfortable and unable to enjoy the massage. Otherwise, the only other contraindication of massage during pregnancy would be a complication in the pregnancy itself. But when done properly, a massage can be just what a pregnant woman needs to recharge and relax her over-stressed body.”

Perhaps it is the massage “tools of the trade” that pose the risk. Many massage therapists use oils and lotions during a session, but are they safe? “Massage oils used differ widely, but mainly those used are natural or herbal oils,” says Deckard. “The only complication that I have encountered is when the smell of the oils, such as lavender, make a pregnant woman ill. If this occurs, the oil should then be substituted with virgin, unscented oil. But the oils themselves pose no harm to either Mom or Baby.”

Manic Manicures
Many pregnant women find that their nails tend to grow more quickly, producing a need to groom them more often.What once was a three or four times a year task now becomes a once-a-month visit.

“Normally, my nails break and are very brittle so I keep them short,” says Crystal Riggs, a small business owner from Seneca, S.C. “I only have to trim or groom my nails every couple months because they just don’t grow. But during my pregnancy, my nails grew longer, stronger, held up to everything including kids and dishes. I loved the fact that I ‘needed’ to go to the salon to get my nails done, something I normally wouldn’t do.”

Visit any manicurist and you will see the finest collection of chemicals, from nail polish and removers to oils, paints and skin treatments, all believed to be safe. But according to a recent report from the Food and Drug Administration, research indicates that chemicals in nail polish, nail polish removers and the like, namely methyl methacrylate and acetonitrile (a chemical that breaks down into cyanide when swallowed), are in fact dangerous and can cause numerous health problems including skin irritation, contact dermatitis, rashes, poisoning and even death. These facts alone cause a concern and fear of manicures.

But according to manicurist, Heather Jacobson, it all depends upon the chemicals used – and who uses them. “Not all manicurists use the same products or use them in the same way,” says Jacobson. “For example, I use mostly natural or biodegradable products and the nail polish I use on my customers is ‘edible.’ It’s not that you could eat it right from the bottle, but if you do ingest it – as most women do from time to time from biting their nails, licking their fingers, etc. – it won’t harm you, as it has only natural ingredients. But others may still use products that contain chemicals that are not safe during pregnancy or otherwise. It is best to ask your manicurist or request she/he use natural products. And if you’re not sure, simply skip the nail polish and have your nails buffed for a natural shine.”

A "Curling" Concern
Pregnancy can have numerous effects on a woman’s hair as well. Mosby’s Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary states that hormone fluctuations can cause color changes, texture changes and even thinning of a woman’s hair during pregnancy. This often leads a woman straight to the chair of their local hairstylist.

“During my pregnancy, my hair started to look strange: half dark, half light,” says Brette Sember, of Clarence, N.Y. “So, I had my hair highlighted in the last trimester. When I asked my doctor about highlighting my hair, she suggested waiting until after the first trimester, as the evidence is still unclear regarding the risk during pregnancy.”

According to Cassandra Chase, a registered midwife from Greenville, S.C., the evidence of coloring, perms or highlighting causing illness or complications during pregnancy is still uncertain. “There is no definite determination as to whether a trip to the beauty salon for anything other than a wash and cut can be dangerous to Mom and Baby,” says Chase. “However, to be on the safe side, we often tell pregnant women to avoid the use of any chemicals, on their hair or otherwise, at least until the last trimester. The chief complaint with coloring, perming or highlighting in pregnant women is that they can’t tolerate sitting for that long or that the smell makes them nauseous.”

“I decided to get a perm during my pregnancy,” says Serena Gordon, of Hudson, N.Y. “I was concerned because I had read that hair coloring could pass through the placenta to the fetus, but hadn’t read anything about perms. I talked to my doctor, and he told me not to worry – as long as I thought I could sit comfortably for the time it takes to get a perm, then go ahead and do it.”

Trepidations of Tanning
Few things may make you look or feel healthier than a glowing tan. And with the invention of tanning beds, bronzing your skin can now be done in half the time. However, Bill Wolff, a nutritionist and tanning salon owner from Atlanta, Ga., says a woman in her first two trimesters of pregnancy should not use tanning beds, as they can be dangerous to both her and her unborn baby.

“Just as there are advisories for people taking certain medications or with certain medical conditions, warning them against the effects of tanning beds, there are also advisories for pregnant women,” says Wolff. “UV rays can affect the skin in many ways. And with the skin of the abdomen stretched due to pregnancy, this area is prone to severe burning and damage. Also, with the hormone changes a woman’s body is going through during pregnancy, there is no way to tell how the tanning bed will affect her. It could be anything from nausea and severe headaches to sun sickness, sun poisoning and skin damage. It is best to wait until after the baby is born before visiting the tanning bed.”

Beauty is something women have worked to achieve for centuries, hoping that with each oil, lotion, cosmetic and sessions of primping, curling and straightening, they will be one step closer to their ideal look. However, the price of beauty should not include the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child.

The best advice related to beauty procedures and chemical use during pregnancy is: When in doubt, ask your health care provider. “We all want to be beautiful,” says Chase. “But beauty is not a reason or an excuse to put anyone’s health at risk – especially when pregnant. Discuss what it is you would like to do with your doctor at your next checkup. I’m sure that after weighing the issue you will come up with a decision you, your doctor and your unborn baby can live with. Besides, a woman is never as beautiful as when she is pregnant.”

Want to see more?

• The Art of Prenatal Massage
• Herbs for Pregnancy: Natural Medicine in the Modern Age
• Household Hazards: How to Protect Your Unborn Baby
• Acupuncture: Relief Right to the Point

About the Author to: Carma Haley Shoemaker is a contributing editor for iParenting Media.