Picking out pregnancy-safe skincare can seem complicated. I have an entire page on pregnancy beauty, dedicated to which skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or IVF.
Today is about stretch marks, the prevention and treatment of which is a big business, esp in pregnant moms. Women actively seek out remedies for it and are willing to splurge. There have been studies conducted on the use of such products by pregnant women. A study published in BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth collected data from 753 pregnant women—78.2% used a product targeted for stretch marks, of which 60.9% used Bio-Oil. Bio-Oil is undoubtedly popular, but is Bio-Oil safe for pregnancy? Read on to find out.
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What is Bio-Oil?
This is a trademarked brand product containing a formula of active ingredients (vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate, vitamin E, and oils of calendula, lavender, rosemary, and chamomile) that claims to help improve the appearance of old and new scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, aging, and dehydrated skin.
Is it safe to use during pregnancy?
An active ingredient of Bio-Oil is retinyl palmitate, a vitamin A derivative belonging to the group of chemicals known as retinoids.
Retinoids, as a group, are not to be used in pregnancy – Is retinyl or retinoids safe to use in pregnancy?
The concern with the use of retinoids in pregnancy is Fetal Retinoid Syndrome (Retinoid Embryopathy) in the developing baby.
This syndrome, characterized by multiple intellectual and physical deformities of the head & neck, heart, and nervous system, is typically described with oral form or retinoid (Isotretinoin). There have been reports of topical prescription retinoids causing the same.
Non-prescription OTC retinoids, like retinyl palmitate as found in skin cosmetics, still have not been reported to cause Fetal Retinoid Syndrome.
However, knowing what we know about retinoids, the risk vs. benefit ratio is just not there to state that Bio-Oil can be safely used in pregnancy.
Thus, I would not consider Bio-Oil to be pregnancy safe.
Many other safer alternatives to Bio-Oil can be considered:
Best Stretch Marks Creams & Oils in Pregnancy.
When I was pregnant, I was concerned about getting stretch marks. I am happy to state (and feel extremely fortunate) that I have zero post-pregnancy stretch marks. Here is how I did it and how you can do it, too!
How to Avoid Stretch Marks During Pregnancy: Proven Tips & Safe Products.
Is Bio-Oil safe to use when lactating?
Retinoids (which include retinyl- the active ingredient in Bio-Oil) are generally not recommended for use during pregnancy.
How much retinyl will get into the breast milk from the application on the skin is unknown, but it will probably be a small amount.
If you must use Bio-Oil at this stage, discuss with your treating doctor the risks vs. benefits.
What does Bio-Oil say about its safety in pregnancy?
Bio-Oil states that it is safe to use.
From its website, “Concerning the level of vitamin A in Bio-Oil Skincare Oil, it is low enough to render it harmless to the unborn child. By including vitamin A at a low level, Bio-Oil Skincare Oil provides pregnant women with the benefits of vitamin A without any safety risk. The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has evaluated vitamin A and its esters when used as a cosmetic ingredient. The SCCS opinion is that the use of vitamin A in body lotions, up to the maximum concentration of 0.05% of retinol equivalent, is safe. Bio-Oil includes vitamin A in its formulation at well below this maximum allowable concentration for a body lotion.”
All these claims aside, remember that the risk-to-benefit ratio should be significant for any chemical to be used during pregnancy. Given what we know about retinoids, I cannot justify their use during pregnancy.
We just do not have enough data on the safety of one of the chemicals (retinyl palmitate) that is a part of the Bio-Oil formula, when used during pregnancy.
Takeaway
- Bio-Oil is touted as an effective remedy for stretch marks that is safe during pregnancy and lactation.
- One of its active ingredients is retinyl palmitate, a chemical belonging to the retinoid group contraindicated in pregnancy.
- Retinyl palmitate is also a commonly found chemical in many OTC cosmetics. So far, the fetal malformations described have been with prescription retinoids, not those found in OTC cosmetics.
- However, we still do not have enough data to confidently state that retinyl palmitate is safe to use in pregnancy. I would not recommend the use of Bio-Oil while pregnant.
