Managing acne in pregnancy

Dr. Vinayak explains that due to hormonal and physiological changes, standard acne medications may not be safe for pregnant individuals. For mild to moderate cases, the recommended approach involves starting with mild cleansers and topical treatments such as azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or certain antibiotics like topical clindamycin and erythromycin. For more severe acne requiring systemic treatment, the doctor suggests cephalosporins or azithromycin. Critically, Dr. Vinayak stresses the need to completely avoid drugs like tetracyclines, doxycycline, and oral retinoids (such as isotretinoin), even before conception, and advises against topical retinoids like tretinoin and adapalene.