Pregnancy Acne Treatment in Singapore — Safe Options for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Written and medically reviewed by the doctors of The Clifford Clinic. Last medically reviewed 7 November 2026.
Pregnancy acne can be treated safely. Our doctors use pregnancy-safe creams, Gold PTT, Q-switch laser, Vbeam laser and long pulse laser, and they avoid the medicines that are not safe for your baby. The same options can be used while you breastfeed. A first consultation is $100, and the doctor confirms every treatment suits you before anything is done.
Pregnancy acne treatment options in Singapore
| Treatment | What it treats | Pregnancy | Breastfeeding | Price (before GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy-safe creams (azelaic acid, low-strength benzoyl peroxide, antibiotic gel used with benzoyl peroxide) | Blackheads, whiteheads, red spots and brown marks | Yes | Yes | Quoted at consultation |
| Gold PTT | Oily skin and active acne, by calming the oil glands | Offered | Offered | $1,000 a session, $2,500 for 3 |
| Vbeam laser | Red, inflamed spots and red acne marks | Offered | Offered | From $280 a session |
| Q-switch laser | Brown acne marks | Offered | Offered | From $1,100 for 5 sessions, from $2,000 for 10 |
| Long pulse laser | Inflamed acne on the face, back and chest | Offered | Offered | From $390 a session |
| Medical acne facial (HydraFacial) | Blocked pores, blackheads and whiteheads | Offered | Offered | $280 a session, $188 trial |
All of these work on the skin itself, and none of them is a tablet. A painful cyst in pregnancy is calmed with creams, a medical facial and laser rather than an injection.
What not to use for acne during pregnancy
These are avoided because they can harm a developing baby or have not been shown to be safe.
- Retinoid creams and gels, including tretinoin, adapalene and tazarotene.
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) tablets.
- Spironolactone and hormonal tablets such as the contraceptive pill.
- Tetracycline antibiotics, including doxycycline and minocycline.
- Strong salicylic acid peels and hydroquinone lightening creams.
- Steroid injections into a cyst are not recommended in pregnancy.
- AviClear is not used in pregnancy, and AGNES is not our first choice.
If you are already using any of these and find out you are pregnant, stop and bring the products to your consultation. A short review settles what is safe to keep.
Why acne flares during pregnancy
In the first trimester, hormones called androgens rise and the oil glands make more oil. Dead skin cells shed less evenly, so pores block more easily, and acne bacteria feed on the trapped oil. Singapore’s humidity, masks and heavier skincare add to it.
Pregnancy acne looks like ordinary acne. You may see blackheads and whiteheads, red spots, or deep painful lumps along the jaw and chin. Many women also get acne on the back, chest and buttocks. Skin marks more easily in pregnancy, so brown marks can stay for months after a spot heals.
Acne that starts in pregnancy often settles within a few months of giving birth. Acne that leaves marks or deep lumps is worth treating now rather than waiting. More on the causes and timing is in pregnancy acne, causes and when it clears.
Gold PTT for pregnancy acne
Gold PTT is the in-clinic acne treatment our doctors offer most often during pregnancy, because it uses no medication. Tiny gold particles are driven into the pores with an ultrasound handpiece, and a laser warms them so the oil glands make less oil. Any particles left on the skin are wiped away first.
A course is three sessions, once a week or once every two weeks, with no downtime. No device has been trialled specifically in pregnancy, so the doctor confirms it suits you at the consultation. See Gold PTT acne treatment.
Laser for acne and acne marks during pregnancy
- Vbeam laser targets the small blood vessels behind red spots and red marks. It calms inflamed acne and fades redness.
- Q-switch laser breaks up the brown pigment left after spots heal. Brown marks are common in pregnancy.
- Long pulse laser gently heats the skin to calm inflamed acne, and is often used on the back and chest.
These lasers work on the skin surface and use no drugs. A review of laser treatments given in pregnancy, covering 380 women across all three trimesters, found no harm to mothers or babies linked to the laser. Most of that evidence comes from case reports, so the doctor sets gentle settings and confirms each treatment with you.
Pregnancy-safe acne skincare routine
- Cleanse morning and night with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
- Treat with azelaic acid at night. It clears blocked pores, calms red spots and fades brown marks. Add a thin layer of low-strength benzoyl peroxide on spots if the doctor advises it.
- Moisturise with a light cream that does not block pores, even if your skin is oily.
- Protect with a mineral sunscreen every morning. Sun makes brown marks and melasma worse.
Start one new product at a time, a week or two apart, so any reaction is easy to spot. Do not squeeze spots, because picking is the most common cause of marks.
Acne treatment while breastfeeding
Most pregnancy-safe creams, Gold PTT, the lasers above and medical acne facials can be continued while you breastfeed. Keep creams away from the breast area so your baby does not come into contact with them.
Once you stop breastfeeding, the full range of acne treatments is open again, including retinoid creams, short courses of antibiotic tablets, hormonal treatment, AviClear and AGNES. See acne treatment in Singapore.
Planning a pregnancy, changing your acne plan
Change your acne treatment as soon as you start trying for a baby, because you will not know straight away when you have conceived.
- Stop retinoid creams before you start trying.
- Isotretinoin. Our doctors advise waiting at least one year after the final dose before trying to conceive. See isotretinoin.
- Spironolactone and tetracycline antibiotics are stopped before trying.
The doctor can switch you to a plan that you can start now and keep through pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Pregnancy acne treatment price in Singapore
| Item | Price (before GST) |
|---|---|
| Doctor consultation | $100 |
| Pregnancy-safe creams | Quoted at consultation |
| Gold PTT | $1,000 a session, $2,500 for 3, $3,500 for 5, $5,800 for 10 |
| Vbeam laser | From $280 a session |
| Q-switch laser | From $1,100 for 5 sessions, from $2,000 for 10 |
| Long pulse laser | From $390 a session |
| Medical acne facial (HydraFacial) | $280 a session, $188 trial |
The doctor gives you the full price before anything is done. Every acne treatment is compared on the acne treatment in Singapore page.
When to see a doctor quickly about pregnancy acne
- Acne that gets rapidly worse, with spreading redness, fever or pain.
- Sudden severe acne that is very different from your usual skin.
- Burning, swelling or weeping from a skin product. Stop the product and get it checked.
Why choose The Clifford Clinic for pregnancy acne?
MEDICATION-FREE OPTIONS
Gold PTT and laser treatment, chosen for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
SAFE PRODUCTS ONLY
Every product you use is checked against what is safe for your baby.
ONE DOCTOR THROUGHOUT
The same doctor plans your care through pregnancy, breastfeeding and after.
Our acne doctors
Every acne plan at The Clifford Clinic is set and reviewed by one of our doctors. You see the same doctor at each review.
Dr Gerard Ee
Managing Director · MBBS (St George’s) · MRCS (Edin) · PG Dip Dermatology (Cardiff)
Trained at SGH, NUH and Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. Accredited in lasers, light therapies, fillers and Botox. Has published in medical journals on surgical and aesthetic topics.
Dr Chow Yuen Ho
Medical Director · MBBS (NUS)
More than 10 years in clinical practice with a special interest in aesthetic dermatology procedures and lasers. Formerly founding Director of Medical Informatics at SGH.
Dr Law Zhi Wei
Partner · MBBS (NUS) · MRCS (Edin) · PG Dip Practical Dermatology (Cardiff)
Surgical training across KKH, SGH and CGH. Accredited in lasers, radiofrequency, ultrasound therapies, Botox and fillers, with a focus on acne care.
Dr Bernard Ong
MBBS (NUS)
Aesthetic and wellness medicine. Former national-level badminton player. Represented Singapore at the Youth Olympic Games.
Book your acne consultation
Message us on WhatsApp or call the clinic to book a consultation with our doctors.
Mon–Fri 10am–8pm · Sat 10am–5pm · 50 Raffles Place #01-01 Singapore Land Tower
Pregnancy acne treatment FAQ
Yes, with the right choices. Pregnancy-safe creams, Gold PTT and gentle laser treatment are used, and retinoids, isotretinoin, spironolactone and tetracycline antibiotics are avoided.
Gold PTT uses no medication, which is why it is the in-clinic acne treatment our doctors offer during pregnancy and breastfeeding. No device has been trialled specifically in pregnancy, so the doctor confirms it suits you.
Vbeam, Q-switch and long pulse laser are used at gentle settings. A review of laser use in 380 pregnant women found no harm linked to the laser, though the evidence is mostly case reports.
Yes. A medical acne facial with HydraFacial cleans blocked pores without strong peels or retinoids, and can be continued while you breastfeed.
In low strengths on small areas, yes. It is often used with an antibiotic gel so the bacteria do not become resistant.
Yes. It is one of the most useful creams in pregnancy, because it treats spots and fades brown marks.
Often in the first trimester, when hormones rise fastest. It can carry on through the pregnancy.
It often settles within a few months of giving birth. Acne that leaves marks or deep lumps is worth treating rather than waiting.
Yes. Most pregnancy-safe creams, Gold PTT, the lasers and medical acne facials can be continued.
Deep lumps and picked spots can scar, and brown marks are common. Early treatment and not squeezing are the best protection.
A consultation is $100. Gold PTT is $1,000 a session or $2,500 for three. Vbeam is from $280 a session, long pulse laser from $390 a session and Q-switch from $1,100 for five sessions. Creams are quoted at consultation.
The Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place #01-01, Singapore Land Tower, Singapore 048623. Tel +65 6532 2400, WhatsApp +65 8318 6332.
- Ly S, et al. Treatment of acne vulgaris during pregnancy and lactation, a narrative review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2023, 13(1), 115–130. doi.org/10.1007/s13555-022-00854-3
- Chien AL, et al. Treatment of acne in pregnancy. J Am Board Fam Med 2016, 29(2), 254–262. doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2016.02.150165
- Wilkerson EC, et al. Utilization of laser therapy during pregnancy, a systematic review of the maternal and fetal effects reported from 1960 to 2017. Dermatol Surg 2019, 45(6), 818–828. doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000001912
- Reynolds RV, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024, 90(5), 1006.e1–30. doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017
- Paithankar DY, et al. Acne treatment based on selective photothermolysis of sebaceous follicles with topically delivered light-absorbing gold microparticles. J Invest Dermatol 2015, 135(7), 1727–1734. doi.org/10.1038/jid.2015.89