So many speak of the “pregnancy glow,” which is when your face just becomes radiant and flawless as your hormones fluctuate. Sadly, for many of us, this does not apply. Instead of luminous, smooth skin, some of us get nothing but skin problems.
But we’ve got good news. These problems are temporary—your skin should soon go back to normal soon after you give birth (though this doesn’t happen immediately). Plus, you can easily treat these skin problems to make them less pronounced.
Pregnancy skin problems
Photo: Pixabay
Along with the obvious changes to your body, the surge in hormones during pregnancy has an impact on your skin. The majority of skin conditions that are typical during pregnancy will disappear after your kid is delivered. Three types of skin issues associated with pregnancy exist:
- Hormone-related
- Preexisting
- Pregnancy-specific
Stretch marks, hyperpigmentation (including melasma), and changes to the hair, nails, and blood vessels are all examples of benign skin conditions that can be triggered by pregnancy’s typical hormonal changes.
Preexisting skin conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, fungi, and cutaneous cancers may change during pregnancy.
A few examples of pregnancy-specific skin conditions include pruritic urticarial papules and plaques, prurigo, intrahepatic cholestasis, pemphigoid gestationis, impetigo herpetiformis, and pruritic folliculitis.
Face skin problems during pregnancy
1. Hyperpigmentation
Also known as the “mask of pregnancy,” melasma causes brown to grey-brown patches on the face. You usually get them on your cheeks, nose, forehead, chin, and upper lip.
To prevent discoloration, women should avoid the sun while pregnant and after giving birth. Get a big floppy sun hat, use an umbrella, and wear a lot of SPF.
You can also use gentle exfoliating scrubs and polishing kits that are specially formulated for damaged skin. You can also use products with bleaching agents. Opt for brands that use milder ingredients like Clinique and Neutrogena, but just to be safe, wait until you finish breastfeeding.
2. Acne
Remember when your raging hormones caused you to break out back when you were in high school? Pregnancy skin will remind you of that.
Plenty of acne products are unsafe to use during pregnancy, so consult with your doctor before using anything. You can use lactic acid, tea tree oil, or sulfur to treat your breakouts, and remember to wash your face daily with a mild cleanser.
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Other pregnancy skin problems
1. Stretch marks
Your skin’s elasticity is limited, so rapid weight gain or loss often leads to stretch marks. For most people, this depends on your genetics, but you can try to minimize their appearance by moisturizing as much as you can.
2. Increased sensitivity
When you’re pregnant, your body will react differently to products that had once worked for you before. Scrubbing too hard could irritate your skin, and perfumed products could make you break out. Switch to unscented and hypoallergenic products.
3. Dry skin
Photo: Fotolia
Some moms get dry, itchy skin when they get pregnant. The key to addressing this is staying constantly hydrated. Use gentle, hypoallergenic lotions and moisturizers, and try using a humidifier in your bedroom at night.
4. Itchy urticarial papules and plaques associated with pregnancy (PUPPP)
There is a rash of little, pale red pimples all over the skin. There is a chance that these lesions will sting, burn or itch. When they congregate in one area for a prolonged period of time, they are referred to as plaques. During pregnancy, these lesions can appear on the buttocks, legs, arms, and belly.
5. Skin Tag
A skin tag is a little flap of tissue that protrudes from your skin. Skin tags are benign growths, hence they are not cancerous. They frequently reside on your groin, neck, chest, and back, as well as under your breasts. Pregnant women frequently experience them, and they are typically painless unless something rubs against them.
6. Varicose Veins
Most often seen in the legs, these twisted, enlarged veins might be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy.
7. Prurigo of Pregnancy
Despite the fact that it can begin at any time throughout your pregnancy, it frequently manifests itself in the second or third trimester.
After delivery, it could linger for several months. Your doctor can diagnose pregnant prurigo and provide a course of treatment based on your symptoms.
8. Pemphigoid gestationis
Blisters form on your stomach and may spread to other areas. This illness may make you more susceptible to difficulties, like preterm birth.
9. Intrahepatic cholestasis
Although there is no rash, this liver condition causes itching on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. It may cause preterm birth. If you have it, go visit your doctor immediately.
Pregnancy skin problems treatment
Photo by Linda Prebreza
Most skin conditions can be addressed with the same techniques used to treat women who are not pregnant. If you have any of the aforementioned skin conditions and are pregnant, you should speak with and let your doctor know. Self-medication and conventional medications should be avoided because they could harm your unborn child.
Home remedies for pregnancy skin problems
Here are answers to all-natural pregnancy skin problems treatment:
- Use a fragrance-free moisturizer or lotion.
- Dress comfortably in loose, itchy-free clothing.
- Put on clothes made of organic materials, like cotton.
- Do a cold bath.
- Ice your entire body.
- Take an oatmeal bath once or twice a week.
- Hot baths and showers should be avoided because they might dry up your skin.
- It’s best to stay indoors while it’s scorching outside.
Additional information from Margaux Dolores
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