Board-certified ob-gyn Shieva Ghofrany, MD explains that the oral vitamin A derivatives that first came on the market in the early ‘80s (aka isotretinoin, or Accutane) are known to cause birth defects at fairly high rates. (It’s why having the medication prescribed also means taking mandatory pregnancy tests.) Topical retinoids have never been found to carry the same risks (but no one is going to do a study on pregnant women and their fetuses to prove them definitively safe).
In Dr. Ghofrany’s opinion, “third-generation topical retinoids have a very high safety profile.” (Third-generation topical retinoids include Adapalene and Tazarotene.) She tells her own pregnant patients that there is “likely little harm” in using topical retinoids since harmful birth defects have only been detected with high oral doses. Retinyl palmitate, the ingredient in Bio-Oil, is a vitamin A derivative considered weaker than over-the-counter retinol and far less potent than a prescription topical retinoid.
As I considered these insights, I couldn’t help but think of the countless people who’ve used Bio-Oil and had healthy pregnancies. When I asked Anate Brauer, MD—a board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist and ob-gyn—what would happen if someone (*raises hand*) had been using Bio-Oil on her belly inadvertently, she said that “the risk to the baby is likely extremely low,” citing the SCCS’s safety threshold. “However, as with any product, always consult your ob-gyn before continuing use.” My own ob-gyn deemed Bio-Oil safe for me to use as long as I felt comfortable.
If you are skeptical of using Bio-Oil during your pregnancy or have been using it and now have some concerns, you have options. One is to switch to the Bio-Oil Natural Oil, which doesn’t contain retinyl palmitate. Or, Dr. Rhambia recommends using bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, instead. (Try Allies of Skin CE15 Bakuchiol Firming Oil or add a few drops of the Good Molecules Bakuchiol Oil to your body lotion).
As a first-time mom, I’m erring on the side of caution, and I’ll soon be switching to the Natural Oil (according to the brand its similar in texture to the original formula). I’m not one to let a product go to waste though, so my original bottle will be tucked away in my bathroom until after my baby is delivered—when I can fully enjoy its silky feel and glistening effect again.