Prioritize topical treatments in pregnant women

Keep topical medications in mind

When it comes to pregnant women, “for most dermatologic therapies, topical medications will be your No. 1 choice” because of less absorption, Dr. Tyler said.

But there are exceptions, she noted. In acne and rosacea, for example, there’s controversy about the safety of topical retinoids. “I would just urge you to not use those medications in pregnancy because you don’t really need to use them,” Dr. Tyler said. “You have other options that are safer.”

Adapalene and tretinoin are listed as category C (risk cannot be ruled out in pregnancy) and topical tazarotene is category X (contraindicated in pregnancy) because of retinoid-like anomalies in animal studies, she said.