From Nature's Glow to Rash Reality: A Cautionary Tale

I recently found myself at a lovely nature retreat, think lush greenery, quiet trails and all the herbal teas you could imagine. It was bliss. As part of the retreat experience, they had a gorgeous selection of natural skincare products. No “chemicals” all “natural” and beautifully packaged.

I didn’t think twice.

I slathered on the creams, misted my face and felt incredibly wholesome doing it. But within three days, that wholesome glow had turned into a bright red, hot, itchy rash and very much not retreat-vibes. And yes, it was all over my face… just in time for work.

Now, I’m a perinatal psychiatrist. I spend a lot of time talking to moms and moms-to-be about making safe, evidence-based decisions especially when it comes to medication and so-called “natural” alternatives during pregnancy. So, I found it ironically humbling (and a little hilarious) that I, too, fell into the very trap I often warn others about: thinking that natural automatically means safe.

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

“Natural” is not a synonym for harmless. Just because something is labeled "natural" doesn’t mean it’s free from risks, especially during pregnancy. It’s essential for us to scrutinise and analyse these products with the same rigor we apply to pharmacological treatments. 

When it comes to medication or alternative treatments during pregnancy a thorough risk-benefit analysis is always an important first step to treatment decisions. If you want to learn more about making informed decisions regarding treatment in pregnancy, hop over to my website, www.drelsadutoit.com.  There, you'll find a video explaining the fundamentals of perinatal strategic planning, guiding you on how to navigate these important choices. 

What this little skincare saga reminded me is that informed decision-making is the cornerstone of safe perinatal care. Whether we’re talking about medications or plant-based alternatives, we need to ask the same questions: 

What does the evidence say?
Is it tested and safe for pregnancy?
Do the benefits outweigh the risks for you?