Compiled by Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC
Nursing mothers have many questions about the safety of various things during lactation. Following are some of the questions we’ve answered over the past few years.
Beauty
| Recreation
| Miscellaneous |
Body Piercing
There is no evidence that nipple piercing (or other body piercing) affects breastfeeding. Some professional piercers recommend against getting a new nipple piercing while breastfeeding. Be sure to observe safety procedures and choose a reputable piercer, to help protect against diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. For more information, see Links re: Nipple Piercing and Breastfeeding (this website).
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Breast implants (silicone)
Silicone implantsbreastfeeding
- Safety of Silicone Breast Implants, Institute of Medicine (2000). See in particular Chapter 11: Effects on Pregnancy, Lactation, and Children.
- Links: Breastfeeding and Breast Surgery (this website)
Bulletproof vests
Most bulletproof vestsproblems
Chlorinated swimming pools
Not a problem. If baby is in the water, too, he will get more chlorine from the water around him than the tiny residual on mom’s breast. Plus, keep in mind that most public water systems (where you get your drinking and/or bath water) chlorinate the water. If you are still concerned, you can always take a quick shower or give your breast a quick rinse with fresh water from a water bottle.
Exercise / Working Out
See Exercise and Breastfeeding
Fair hair/skin and sore nipples
Many moms are told that they are more prone to sore nipples if they are very fair skinned, redheads, etc. This is a myth! The research has shown us that fair skin or hair does not increase the risk for nipple soreness. The most common cause of nipple soreness is a less than perfect latch and/or positioning.
- Brockway L. Hair colour and problems in breastfeeding. Midwives Chronicle and Nursing Notes 1986;March:66-67.
Hair Care Products (dyes, permanents, relaxers)
There is no evidence that hair care products (dyes, permanents, or hair relaxers) used by a nursing mom have any effect on her breastfeeding baby.
- What about coloring my hair or getting a perm while I am breastfeeding? NHS England
Hair Removal
In general, topical products (including hair removal products like Nair, etc.) that are applied to the skin do not end up in breastmilk, due to poor absorption into mom’s bloodstream. The only caution I can find (and this was actually talking about using Nair to remove hair in the areola area) was to do a spot test first to make sure you’re not allergic (and this applies to anyone using this type of product).
There is no evidence that electrolysis or laser hair removal would affect breastfeeding or your breastfed baby.
Hot tubs
Nursing moms should simply observe the usual precautions when using a hot tub. Make sure that it is clean and well maintained, as organisms found in hot tubs can cause a wide variety of ailments, including skin rashes and infections, urinary tract infections, irritation of the digestive system, lung disease and even hepatitis and Legionnaires’ disease.
- Hot Tubs – Health And Safety Tips
Insect Repellent
Per the Centers for Disease Control, “There are no reported adverse events following use of repellents containing DEET in pregnant or breastfeeding women.”
More information:
- Insect Repellent Use and Safety from the US Centers for Disease Control
- How to Use Insect Repellents Safely from the US Environmental Protection Agency
- New information leads to changes in DEET recommendations (August 2001) from the American Academy of Pediatrics (this has guidelines for using DEET products on infants
- DEET vs. Other Mosquito Repellents: A Comparison, journal article summary from American Academy of Family Physicians
Scuba Diving
There is no evidence that diving affects breastfeeding. It’s recommended that mom drink plenty of fluids, though, as diving can be very dehydrating (and dehydration can reduce milk supply, as well as contribute to decompression sickness).
- Diving Medicine FAQs: Breastfeeding from DAN (Divers Alert Network)
- Diving Medicine FAQs: Return To Diving After Giving Birth from DAN (Divers Alert Network)
Skin bleach
One common active ingredient of skin bleaching products is hydroquinone. Per Thomas Hale, PhD (author of Medications and Mothers’ Milk 2017), hydroquinone is probably compatible with breastfeeding. “While it does not seem to be very toxic, its chronic use in breastfeeding mothers is probably not warranted for such benign syndromes that could wait until the mother has weaned off the breast.”
Skin creams
Skin creamsalpha hydroxy acids
Sunscreen, Self-tanning products
Because these are topically applied, very little would absorb through the skin into the bloodstream and therefore into your milk. They should not be a problem for the breastfeeding mom and baby. Do be careful about applying it on the breast – make sure baby doesn’t get any in his mouth.
The spray tanning booths (also called UV-free tanning, airbrush tanning, spray on tanning, etc.) come under the category of self-tanning products. To prevent baby ingesting the self-tanning lotion, wash the self-tanning product from your breasts before nursing.
Tanning
Tanningultraviolet exposure ages
- Is it safe to use a tanning bed? Will it affect my breastmilk? LLL FAQ
Tattoos
There is no evidence that getting a tattoo will affect breastfeeding. There should be no harm to mom or baby from the dyes injected. If you get a tattoo, the biggest concern for anyone (not just nursing moms) is infection (hepatitis or HIV)– so make sure the place you go has good references and is clean.
Tattoos and Breastfeeding from La Leche League International
Babies, Breasts and Body Mods: What You Need to Know by Robyn Roche-Paull, from KellyMom.
Tooth whiteners/tooth whitening
According to my references, teeth whiteners are carbamide peroxide, which is just a stabilized formulation of hydrogen peroxide. When it touches tissue, it releases pure hydrogen peroxide almost immediately. Its transfer to the plasma is minimal, if at all. According to Thomas Hale, PhD (in Medications and Mothers’ Milk), “it would be all but impossible for any to reach breastmilk except under extreme overdose.” Even if absorbed, it would be metabolized in seconds.
