Skin Care and Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the body experiences enormous changes. The skin changes as well, due to the hormonal fluctuations. For a number of women, pregnancy can result to a beautiful “glow” in their skin primarily due to improved circulation. On the other hand, some women’s skin becomes dry and discolored. The hormonal changes also results to pregnancy acne, stretch marks, and extra-dryness.

On top of every change brought about by hormones, some other factors play a significant part as well in skin care during pregnancy. There are two very common issues when it comes to pregnancy skin care: the kind of skincare product that will be safe to use; and if you’ll be able to put up with the scents.

Safe Skin Care Products

Skin care and pregnancy must go hand in hand at a very “sensitive” time in a woman’s life. Skin care products used during pregnancy must be very safe for pregnant women, which means that the smell and the ingredients of the product must in no way affect your baby’s health and yours. Be sure to check on product labels, as there would usually be a warning if the product should not be used by women who are pregnant.

Tolerating Scents

Pregnant women are generally sensitive to scents. Sometimes, a scent that they would have once liked becomes the scent they hate the most. They’re very sensitive to alcohol scents in a product, and may cause them to feel nausea, headache, or simply annoyance. This is quite understandable, but choosing products with lesser scent levels may be advisable for pregnant women.

Sun Protection

Another important step that pregnant women must do for skin care is to protect themselves from the sun, especially during pregnancy as the skin has the tendency to be more sensitive. A sunscreen of SPF15 at least, is necessary to keep out the sun’s harmful effects when it’s at its hottest. Moreover, some women who are pregnant develop something called “pregnancy mask” – this is skin darkening around the mouth, forehead, and nose, which may worsen with sun exposure.

Countering Dry Skin And Stretch Marks

Pregnancy skincare, particularly for dry skin escorted by “stretch marks”, is very important. Treating the dry skin will requires extra moisturizing for easing the dryness, as well as the itchiness that comes with it. Although moisturizing creams will help the dry skin, using a kind of “anti-itch” lotion will sometimes be needed to soothe the itch –your doctor’s advice will be needed.

Although there has been no treatment for stretch marks development during pregnancy, keeping a moisturized skin, particularly with “cocoa butter” will help lessen stretch mark development.

The Case Of Oilier Skin

If most pregnant women undergo dry skin when pregnant, some women find their skin becoming oilier. They can still use moisturizers, but those that are water-based are best. It is also important to have a proper skin care regimen, to avoid pregnancy acne.

Helpful Skin Care And Pregnancy Routines

Properly cleansing the face twice a day will help keep the pores unclogged. It will also help with avoiding acne. But don’t use regular medication for acne during pregnancy. Pregnant women should also avoid the use of soaps that remove oils from the skin, making it drier. Since the skin is often very sensitive during pregnancy, use products that are labeled as “non-comedogenic”.

It is also advisable to take notice of the feet, particularly if suffering from “gestational diabetes”. Drink sufficient amounts of water. Also, avoid long baths as these can make dry skin worse. Finally, get the rest and sleep needed, which will help the skin refurbish itself.

Skin care and pregnancy practices must be in harmony not just in protecting the skin from the hormonal changes that it is experiencing, but to also make sure that the baby is not affected in any way.