AAD: Acne treatments safe, effective during pregnancy

Acne that occurs during pregnancy is treatable, both safely and effectively, according to a press release from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Oral medications, over-the-counter topical medications and light-based therapies are all reliable and safe options (category B approved by the FDA) for women to consider if they experience acne flares during pregnancy, according to Jonette Elizabeth Keri, MD, PhD, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and chief of dermatology at the Miami Veterans Administration.

Jonette Elizabeth Keri

According to the release, presented recently at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in Denver, Keri recommends pregnant women with acne can treat with OTC topical medications and facial washes, or a topical antibiotic available through prescription. Oral medications include azithromycin, cephalexin and erythromycin.

Red and blue light phototherapy also are safe if other medications are ineffective, according to the release, but are not covered by insurance and must be administered by a certified dermatologist weekly.

“Acne is not a condition that should be dismissed because a woman is pregnant, as it’s important for women to feel good about themselves during pregnancy and particularly postpartum when the ‘baby blues’ or post-partum depression could become an issue,” Keri said in the release. “It’s really a personalized decision to seek treatment for acne while pregnant, and women should consult their dermatologists to understand the options available to them.”