Pregnant women often develop allergies. As many as 25 percent of women suffer from an allergic reaction during pregnancy, according to the website What to Expect. In addition, many women with allergies experience a worsening of those allergies during pregnancy. If you have an allergic reaction to a hair product, your allergic reaction most likely will have no effect on your pregnancy or your unborn baby. However, you may need to restrict certain allergy medications.
Skin Reactions
If you have an allergy to hair products, you may experience skin reactions such as rashes, eczema, hives, facial swelling, redness or swollen eyelids. Skin rashes caused by an allergy do not affect your baby in any way. Over-the-counter antihistamines that reduce allergic symptoms are considered safe in pregnancy but check with your doctor before taking any medication.
Respiratory Reactions
If you develop respiratory symptoms from an allergic reaction during pregnancy, the chances of your baby being affected depend on the severity of your reaction. A runny or stuffy nose will not harm your baby, although you should avoid taking decongestants containing pseudoephedrine, which can be harmful in early pregnancy. However, if you have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, throat swelling or wheezing, seek immediate medical attention. If you're short of breath, your baby may not get the oxygen she needs through the placenta. You may need supplemental oxygen to raise your oxyhemoglobin saturation level to 95 percent or more, the level needed for adequate fetal oxygenation, according to Dr. Peter Clardy of Harvard Medical School in an article for UpToDate. Both you and your baby may need hospital monitoring if you have trouble breathing.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis, a severe reaction characterized by swelling, difficulty breathing and circulatory collapse occurs rarely in pregnancy. The fetus appears to be protected from some of the effects of anaphylaxis because the placenta can produce histaminase, which can affect histamine production, according to the Aukland Allergy Clinic. If you're short of oxygen, however, the baby can be affected. Both you and your baby may need hospital monitoring if you have anaphylaxis from an allergic reaction.
Considerations
Most allergic reactions are mild. A mild allergic reaction will not harm your baby. If you know you're prone to severe allergic reactions, talk to your doctor about using an inhaler or epinephrine injections during pregnancy. Avoiding potential allergic triggers is safer than trying to deal with an allergic reaction. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says the use of hair dye is safe in pregnancy, although many practitioners recommend waiting until the second trimester to use it. If you use hair dye after the first trimester, follow the manufacturer's recommendations and test a small patch of skin before putting the dye on your hair.
References
- What to Expect: Allergies During Pregnancy
- Aukland Allergy Clinic: Allergies in Pregnancy
- DermNet NZ: Allergy to Paraphenylenediamine
- The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook: Overview of Allergic Reactions
- American Pregnancy Association: Hair Treatment During Pregnancy
- UpToDate: Acute Respiratory Failure during Pregnancy and the Peripartum Period
- BabyZone: Allergies and Pregnancy
