Is It Safe To Use Body Scrubs During Pregnancy?

By: Ambili S Kartha

Pregnancy is the blooming phase of a woman’s life where she undergoes a plethora of changes, physical as well as psychological. Due to the hormonal changes a lot changes in her body, and this is the time when she should sit and pamper the skin with a body scrub, get spas and groom herself well. It is believed that if you dress well and look nice, the confidence boosts up and you do feel good from inside as well.

Going to a spa is a great way to rejuvenate the body and mind and your overall appearance as well. Though there are many schools of thoughts that prevail in and around the same. Some of which do not advise using any sort of scrubs and chemicals on any part of the body as they are considered harmful for the mother as well as the baby. Though after a lot of research and surveys and discussions with experts it has been found out that it is safe to use body scrubs and there is absolutely no problem as the salt or oils used on the external part of the body do not get absorbed by the skin.

It is of importance to inform the Esthetician know that you are pregnant prior to taking the session so that they can rub in a smooth and gentle manner and make it a comfortable one for you as the skin is sensitive at this time due to increased blood flow.

Let us know have a look and understand what the function of a body scrub is, how safe it is to be used during pregnancy, the right guide to be able to use a body scrub at this time etc.

How Does A Body Scrub Work?

The skin starts to look dull and dark as the dead cells envelop the skin. The application of body scrubs helps to eliminate this layer and enhance the skin resulting in soft supple and radiant skin. Using the body scrubs sometimes does no harm and helps in minimizing the dark patches. The process of exfoliation also ensures enhanced blood supply that makes the moisture permeate and offering adequate nourishment to the skin. A slightly rough product like sea salts or sugar is combined with aromatic oils that are rubbed in a rigorous manner all over the body which is thereafter rinsed and this, hydrates and moisturizes the skin.

Is It Safe To Use A Body Scrub During Pregnancy?

It is the expert’s opinion that body scrubs are completely safe to be used during the phase of pregnancy. One can use any type of body scrubs that have sugar, sea-salt as a base since they do not pose any harm to the baby. The skin does not absorb either of these and so no threats whatsoever. In case the skin is sensitive, one must be careful to used salt-based scrubs as those can lead to a breakdown of the minor blood vessels. It is important to inform the massage therapists of the condition while taking a slot so that they can do it likewise. It is also seen that since the first trimester of the pregnancy is very critical many clinics and spa centers refuse to do as there are more chances to have miscarriages at this time.

Benefits Of Using A Body Scrub During Pregnancy

Over the years having a massage therapy is considered beneficial as it helps in healing and even enhancing one’s health and minimizes stress levels etc. These days, however, a body scrubbing is recommended as pregnancy is a time when the mothers-to-be having to go through indefinite stress levels which eases out with body scrubbing. Apart from this, there are several benefits as well that are mentioned as under:

1. Reduced Stress And Anxiety Levels: Studies indicate that body scrubbing during this time helps in alleviating stress levels which also reduces the factors of depression. It eases the muscle or joint pain and even rejuvenates the skin leaving it soft, supple and radiant.
2. It Helps In Reducing The Swelling: It is normal to experience swelling during pregnancy as there is more pressure applied on the important blood vessels and it even ends up reducing the blood flow. So, using a body scrub and massage helps to cut down the accumulation of fluids.
3. Hormone Regulation: Good skin alleviates the mood and massage with oils decreases the stress hormones generation and increase the secretion of what is called the “happy hormones” which even leads to less complication later at the time of childbirth.

Constituents Of A Good Body Scrub

A perfect body scrub is not only a good exfoliator, but it should have some added benefits as well as like offering a revitalizing experience by using some vital oils and aromas. Any scrub cannot be considered good enough until it contains all the important elements. Some of the significant constituents of a good body scrub are listed as under:

1. It Should Have An Exfoliant: Harsh substances like jojoba beads, sugar crystals, sea salt, apricot kernels or coffee grounds are the base for an exfoliant, this helps to get rid of the dead skin cells and let the fresh and new cells appear from beneath.
2. It Should Offer Aroma: Vital oils must be used to offer revitalizing fragrance within the body scrub. The price of the body scrubs differs depending on the oil used in them.
3. Oil Is A Must: Oils are used to keep the body scrubs intact and all expensive body scrubs attribute their high price to the expensive oils like almond, walnut, or macadamia.

Things To Avoid While Using Body Scrubs During Pregnancy

Body scrubbing leads to healthy skin and makes one feel good about themselves, yet one must be cautious as well. It is of utmost importance to inform the spa person or the Esthetician about your condition and any other concerns as well so that the required steps can be taken. Apart from that, the experts advise to be vigilant and prevent from using the list of things mentioned as under:

• Avoid The Application Of Scrubs That Have Aromatherapy Oils: Few oils can have an adverse effect that can trigger uterine cramps. It is advised to not use thyme, basil, oregano oil etc. based body scrubs.
• Avoid Touching The Pressure Point: There are few places or points like the ankles and the wrists that trigger cramps, convulsions etc. So, these are the places that should be handled gently while scrubbing and massaging.

Tips On How To Use A Body Scrub While Pregnant

It has been proved that the application of body scrubs is completely safe to be used during pregnancy. Body scrubs no doubt help in offering a new life to the skin and to the pregnant women as well. There are many added benefits that have been listed of using a body scrub as well, yet there are certain points to be kept under consideration while using body scrubs during pregnancy and they are given as under:

• In case the body scrub has harmful ingredients like harsh chemicals they might penetrate in the skin leading to serious problems later, so it is advised to always check the sticker and doing research before picking it up.
• Pregnancy is a time when the skin of the pregnant women become sensitive, so it is best to use natural and organic products that are safe with no side-effects. It is advisable to use home-made scrubs that have no risks associated with them.
• It is important to massage the body scrub in a tender and gentle manner as the scrubs are made of small granules which can react on the delicate skin if rubbed in a harsh manner. Always remember that body scrubs are used to enhance the beauty and offer charm to the skin and not red and blue bruises.
• Aloe Vera which is considered very good for the skin should be avoided at this time as it can lead to birth deformities as advised by the experts.
• Always opt for body scrubs that have gentle exfoliating materials like jojoba beads or coffee seeds etc to rejuvenate the skin.
• Avoid using body scrubs that contain essential oils that encourage menstrual flow. This can cause ill effects on your pregnancy.
• Never use scrubs that have oils that can hamper the skin especially the scrubs that have basil, almond, pine, fennel, clove oils that can cause irritation to the skin. If at all one feels the need to use them, it is best to consult a medical practitioner.

Therefore, having a grooming time certainly helps in reducing the pregnancy melancholy and makes one feel positive and confident. The physical appearance gets enhanced which as well makes one feel less stressful and lowers the chances of depression. It is however best to use natural products that are safe as any miss on this part could be harmful to the fetus.

Source: https://www.beingtheparent.com/is-it-safe-to-use-body-scrubs-during-pregnancy/

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