# The Risk of Using Cosmetics and Cosmetic Procedures During Pregnancy
## 3 Cosmetics and Pregnancy  
The term \"cosmetic\" originates from the ancient Greek word \"cosmetikos\", which is derived from \"kosmos\", referring to beauty, ornament, and appearance [10]. Cosmetics are used to alter the body's appearance, not its actual structure or function. There are distinctions between substances that only alter bodily appearance or aesthetics and medicinal compounds that affect the body's structure or health (e.g., the prevention of gingivitis). [PERSON], the 16 th-century Swiss physician and philosopher, observed that any substance applied to or in the body can cause harm, given the right circumstances [11]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Melasma} & Third month of pregnancy, in women with dark skin. It is located on the forehead, cheeks and chin. Melasma, or the mask of pregnancy, is the second most common complaint after striae and may resolve within 1 year of delivery in 70\% women without any treatment [1]. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Scars} & During pregnancy, the level of active melanocytes is higher, leading to a higher concentration of melanin in a pregnant woman’s body. The scars look darker. The scars formed due to the extension of the skin. \\ \hline Vascular system & Telangicctatic arteriole, telangicasia, palmar erythema, varicose veins [4]. \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Linea Nigra} & Hyperpigmentation of the white abdomen line (1 st trimester) affects 90\% of pregnant women. After childbirth, it recedes enough or completely [5]. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Stretch marks (striae)} & It affects a percentage of 50 to 90\% of women, and appear after the 6 th month of pregnancy. Stretch marks are characterized by thinner skin, but mainly a reduction in the density of the elastin fiber network. The collagen fibers break. At the striation level, skin appendages are absent. The appearance of the striae is mainly due to hormonal changes, hereditary factors, and significant weight gain or loss [5,6]. \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Acne} & Acne development is random. Indeed, it can worsen, improve, or remain unchanged [7]. \\ \cline{2-2}  & White milk spots on nails (leukopodia). Nails can change during pregnancy. Extra hormones can make them grow faster and become stronger. Some women, though, find that their nails split and break more easily during pregnancy, but nail changes are not permanent [8]. \\ \hline \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{Cellulite} & This is caused by high levels of estrogen and progesterone [9]. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Changes during pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation (modified by Dr. [PERSON], 2024). Figure 1: A 32-year-old woman had various changes in her body due to pregnancy. (**a**) Changes in the vascular system. This figure is 3 months after childbirth. (**b**) Red streaks appeared in the 8 th month only in the abdomen. This figure is one month after birth. However, after the Morhange talc scandal--in which several talc products, contaminated with high concentrations of hexachloriophene, resulted in 36 deaths in 1972--cosmetics became subject to regulations encoded in the French Public Health Code (Code de la Sante Publique--CSP). Among these regulations is a fundamental principle: \"The cosmetic product must not harm human health under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use\". Despite this, many cosmetic products still contain chemicals that are potentially harmful or dangerous to the body [12]. Given the widespread use of these substances, special attention must be paid to pregnant women and their fetuses. During pregnancy, consumers should be vigilant, as certain changes they notice can indicate various risks. Preserving maternal immunity is crucial, and beauty products known to be harmful remain prohibited. The use of cosmetic products during pregnancy requires careful recommendations due to substances that may be harmful to the fetus.