Is Alpha-Arbutin safe during pregnancy?
A synthetic form of arbutin (a hydroquinone relative). Best avoided in pregnancy; swaps: azelaic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide.
PregnancyNot recommended
BreastfeedingAsk your clinician
EvidenceLimited
What the sources say
Alpha-arbutin is a form of arbutin, which is hydroquinone bound to glucose; a review advises caution because hydroquinone may be released during use. A 2025 review of skin care in pregnancy and breastfeeding lists arbutin among ingredients to avoid. No breastfeeding studies exist; ask your clinician, and keep it off the breast area if used.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
4-hydroxyphenyl-alpha-d-glucopyranoside, alpha arbutin, α-arbutin
Sources
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Photoprotection in pregnancy: addressing safety concerns and optimizing skin health (Front Med, 2025)
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Arbutin as a Skin Depigmenting Agent with Antimelanogenic and Antioxidant Properties (Antioxidants, 2021)
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.