Retinol & Pregnancy: Is Your Night Cream Safe?

Question
Hello, I am 33 weeks pregnant. It is my first pregnancy and everything is going well, but I just heard that you should avoid creams with retinol during your pregnancy. I have been using a night cream (Yves Rocher pro-retinol 100% vegetal night shift) that appears to contain retinol for the past 6 months. Should I be worried? Can it get into my blood stream and harm the baby?

Thank you for your help.

Answer
Retinol (retinoic acid, Vitamin A acid) is a retinoid and vitamin A metabolite used topically for the treatment of acne vulgaris and other skin disorders. Like other retinoids, it is a potent teratogen following exposure in early pregnancy producing a variety of birth defects. When used topically, however, the risk is thought to be close to Zero.Elevated serum concentrations of all-trans reoinoic acid in early gestation are cnsidered teratogenic in humans. Because of its relatively poor systemic absorption after topical administration, however, use of the creams is not thought to present a significant fetal risk. Most of the evidence indicates that topical retino;in does not increase the risk for congenital malformations. I really doubt that there will be any problems.