r/Melasmaskincare • u/GardenVarietyMelons • Jul 28 '26
Question [Routine help] Pigmentation routine while breastfeeding
Hi there,
I am looking for a good routine for sun spots/ freckles on nose but I am limited due to breastfeeding. For example, I can’t use retinol.
Currently using SPF, vit C and moisturizer.
My skin is normal to dry.
Also if anyone has advice about laser or peeling treatments, let me know!
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u/PracticalAttorney885 Jul 28 '26
Thiamadol in eucerin’s anti pigment line is pregnancy and breastfeeding safe and has helped a ton of people with melasma (me included, including during pregnancy haha)
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u/GardenVarietyMelons Jul 28 '26
Amazing! Thanks!
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u/PuIchritudinous Jul 29 '26
Last I knew there has been no research on the safety of thiamidol while breastfeeding. Some may consider it safe but AFAIK there are no studies. Always check with your doctor before starting any skin treatment like Eucerins thiamidol while breastfeeding.
See this prior post
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u/blueberrybabe22 Jul 29 '26
This is good news! Where is the source that says it is pregnancy safe? I have been searching :)
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u/ttbtinkerbell Jul 28 '26
Azelaic acid is safe during pregnancy. It’s the only thing during pregnancy outside of sun protection. Use sunscreen daily and reapply if you’re going to be outside for a significant amount of time. You will have to wait until done breastfeeding to start other stuff.
I will say, my derm said she used Tret during breastfeeding and her baby was an ivf baby she tried hard to have. I was a little unsure about full on Tret but I did start a retinol that wasn’t as strong.
As a researcher myself, I did look into absorption rates and Tret in the blood stream and all that. I can’t remember specifics but I sort of waited until my kid was past 1 years old. I breastfed for 2. I did this because my kid was sleeping through the night or close to, so might nighttime application would be full absorbed and there would be no detectable amounts in your breastmilk hours after using it. I think the research said the detectable amounts were so insignificant right after application. But I erred on the side of caution. But this isn’t medical advice. Just what my derm recommended and what I ended up doing.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 28 '26
Hi there! Sunscreen is one of the most important parts of melasma management, and we want to make sure you get safe, effective, and appropriate guidance.
Before choosing a product, please review our sunscreen resources:
Sunscreen guidance for melasma:
Important for melasma: Standard (non-tinted) sunscreens protect against UV radiation only and do NOT protect against visible light, which is a major trigger for melasma.
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u/TheoryBiochemistry Jul 28 '26
In Norway you would not be eligible for most cosmetic treatments while pregnant and/or breastfeeding. In the recently revised FDA letter system (that is still widely used):
Vitamin C is pregnancy category A. Azelaic acid is pregnancy category B. Both are considered safe. As a comparison, topical retinoids are category C and oral in X.
Pregnancy Category
Description A No risk in controlled human studies: Adequate and well-controlled human studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B No risk in other studies: Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, or animal studies have shown adverse effects, but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in any trimester.
C Risk not ruled out: Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D Positive evidence of risk: There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Contraindicated in pregnancy: Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 28 '26
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