Is Dapsone safe during pregnancy?
Prescription acne gel (Aczone) with limited human pregnancy data. Ask your clinician before using it pregnant or nursing.
PregnancyAsk your clinician
BreastfeedingAsk your clinician
EvidenceLimited
What the sources say
AAD says animal studies showed no birth defects but human data are limited, so doctors are very cautious about prescribing it in pregnancy. LactMed notes topical dapsone gives blood levels about 1% of an oral dose and is unlikely to affect a breastfed baby, but the manufacturer says not to use it while nursing; oral dapsone can cause hemolysis in newborns or babies with G6PD deficiency. Discuss with your clinician.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
aczone, dapsone gel, diaminodiphenyl sulfone
Sources
- AAD: Is any acne treatment safe to use during pregnancy?
- NIH LactMed: Dapsone - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.