I've read a bit about Vitamin A and pregnancy and I wouldnt be freaking out just yet.
According to Wikipedia "This teratogenic effect is caused by the interference of the exogenous retinoic acid with endogenous retinoic acid signaling, which plays a role in patterning the developing embryo. However the risks of topical tretinoin to the fetus seems to be limited."
I also found this:
Question: I'm Taking Retin-A and Found Out I'm Pregnant. What Should I Do?
Can I still use Retin-A while I'm pregnant? Will Retin-A harm my baby? What should I do?
Answer:
First, stop using Retin-A and give your doctor a call.
Second, don't panic. It's highly unlikely that your baby will be affected if you unwittingly used Retin-A before you realized you were pregnant.
Retin-A is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Pregnancy Category C drug, meaning Retin-A use by pregnant women has not been extensively studied. So although Retin-A has not been proven safe to use during pregnancy, there is no good indication that it's unsafe either.
Retin-A, also known as tretinoin, is a drug derived from vitamin A (other tretinoin medications include Retin-A Micro, Renova, and Avita.) High amounts of oral vitamin A have been shown to cause birth defects. This hasn't been proven so for topical treatments though.
Realistically, the absorption of Retin-A into the body is very minimal. So it's very unlikely that the small amount absorbed would do anything to a developing baby.
If you're still uneasy, here's some news that might put you at ease -- the most recent studies on this topic indicate the risk of developing birth defects is no different in mothers that used topical tretinoin during early pregnancy compared to those who didn't use the medication.
Remember, though, topical tretinoin is different from oral tretinoin and oral isotretinoin. Oral tretinoin, meaning you take this medication by mouth, is classified as a FDA Pregnancy Category D drug (there is evidence it may cause harm to a developing fetus.) Isotretinoin, which is better known as Accutane, is a FDA Pregnancy Category X drug. Isotretinoin can cause severe birth defects, and should absolutely never be taken during pregnancy.
Obviously, you do want to be extra careful about which drugs you're using while you're pregnant, whether they are topical or oral. So if you find out that you're pregnant while you're using Retin-A, stop using it and let your doctor know. Your derm will decide on a further course of action for your treatment.
For some lucky women, skin looks better during pregnancy, but for others being pregnant makes acne all that much worse. If you fall into the latter category, you'll probably want to continue using some type of acne treatment during your pregnancy. Since Retin-A lacks a proven track record as a good acne treatment for pregnant women, your doctor will most likely suggest you stop using this medication for the duration of your pregnancy.
While your Retin-A treatment may be out, there are other acne treatment medications that can be safely used during pregnancy. Most of them are topical, and include medications like:
azelaic acid
benzoyl peroxide
topical erythromycin
salicylic acid
These medications are better choices for treating acne during pregnancy. Your doctor might have other pregnancy-safe suggestions too.
So although Retin-A is not recommended for use during pregnancy, the good news is that inadvertently using it while pregnant will most likely have no effect on your developing baby.
