Evigrade

Pregnancy: what is safe, what to avoid

The list is built from the Evigrade database: cosmetic ingredients tagged by safety using AEMPS, EU SCCS and FDA data; drugs carry pregnancy notes from official product information (AEMPS, FDA, EMA and the Russian Ministry of Health)

Quick answer

Ingredient and drug safety during pregnancy is not a yes/no question but a risk-benefit evaluation based on the available evidence. The FDA retired its letter categories (A, B, C, D, X) in 2015 because they oversimplified the risk. For drugs we therefore quote what the official product information says about pregnancy. Cosmetics: retinoids, hydroquinone, oxybenzone and aluminum chlorohydrate carry documented risk and are avoided; most moisturizers, cleansers and zinc/titanium oxide SPF filters are safe.

Every entry links to the full evidence card with citations.

Ingredients to avoid during pregnancy

Ingredients with documented fetal risk or insufficient safety evidence. Includes all known retinoids, chemical UV filters with estrogenic activity, and similar.

Cosmetic ingredients safe during pregnancy

Cosmetic ingredients permitted in pregnancy per AEMPS, EU SCCS and FDA data. Found in moisturizers, cleansers and SPF formulations.

All ingredients in database →

Drugs: what the evidence says

Drugs with pregnancy notes from official product information.

Fixed-dose combination: angiotensin II receptor blocker plus thiazide diuretic (6)
Fixed-dose combination: statin plus intestinal cholesterol absorption inhibitor (3)
Herbal sedative, EMA HMPC traditional herbal medicinal product (3)
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) (3)
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) (3)
Mucolytic agent (3)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (3)
Other antivirals (local classification) (3)
Other immunostimulants (local classification) (3)
Other metabolic agents (local classification) (3)
Rapid-acting insulin analogue (3)
Second-generation antihistamine (5)
Statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) (3)
Triptan, selective 5HT1B/1D receptor agonist (4)
Other (663)

All drugs in database →

Frequently asked

Which cosmetic ingredients should be avoided during pregnancy?

All retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene, retinol, retinaldehyde, retinoic acid, retinyl esters), hydroquinone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, phthalates, formaldehyde-releasers. Glycolic and salicylic acid above 2% are also avoided.

What do the FDA pregnancy categories mean?

A – safety confirmed in RCTs with pregnant women. B – no demonstrated risk in animal RCTs, limited human data. C – risk cannot be excluded; use only if benefit outweighs risk. D – evidence of risk; use only in life-threatening situations. X – contraindicated.

Are SPF filters safe during pregnancy?

Mineral filters (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) are safe. Among chemical filters, oxybenzone and octocrylene are avoided. Modern UVA filters (Tinosorb S/M, Mexoryl SX/XL/400, Uvinul A Plus) have no risk data.

Can retinol be used during pregnancy?

No. All forms of retinoids (tretinoin, retinol, retinaldehyde, adapalene, isotretinoin, retinyl esters) are linked to teratogenic effects and are contraindicated during pregnancy. Alternatives: niacinamide, azelaic acid, bakuchiol, peptides.

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