From the Research
Glycolic Acid Safety During Pregnancy
- The safety of glycolic acid during pregnancy is a topic of interest, with various studies investigating its effects on maternal and fetal health 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A study on rats found that glycolic acid, a metabolite of ethylene glycol, was preferentially accumulated in the rat embryo at gestation day 11, but not at gestation day 16, suggesting potential developmental toxicity 3.
- Another study on rats found that the maternal and developmental no-observed-effect level (NOEL) of glycolic acid was 150 mg/kg, with evidence of developmental toxicity at higher doses 2.
- A review of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and lactation found that glycolic acid peels are deemed safe, although more research is needed to confirm their safety 5.
- The pharmacokinetics of glycolic acid in pregnant rats were found to be dose-dependent and nonlinear, with potential implications for developmental toxicity 4.
Key Findings
- Glycolic acid may be safe for use during pregnancy in certain contexts, such as in chemical peels 5.
- However, high doses of glycolic acid have been associated with developmental toxicity in animal studies 2, 3, 4.
- More research is needed to fully understand the safety of glycolic acid during pregnancy and to establish clear guidelines for its use 1, 5.