From the Vault
As more patients turn to the internet for guidance on pregnancy-safe skincare, dermatologists are increasingly fielding questions about what’s safe to use during pregnancy. One JDD article, “Safety of Topical Dermatologic Medications in Pregnancy” (J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(7):830-834), has seen renewed interest from patient-facing sites like Baby Chick and Dr. Oracle —making it clear that this is a hot-button topic for expecting and soon-to-be mothers.
The article reviews available human and animal data on topical dermatologic drugs during pregnancy and offers practical recommendations for clinicians. While topical treatments generally have low systemic absorption and are considered safer than oral or injectable options, the data remains limited—and caution is still warranted.
For healthcare providers, staying informed is key. Patients are coming in with more questions—and often, misinformation. This article can serve as a quick-reference guide to help you offer evidence-based advice during those important conversations.
