Make Sure to Follow This Special Skincare Advice During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting and challenging time for you. Youre very focused on eating right, exercising correctly and getting plenty of rest. The list goes on. However, one absolutely critical thing that often gets overlooked is skin care.

Special skincare during pregnancy is especially important, as pregnant women are prone to outbreaks.

Also, some harmful skin care and prescription ingredients are absorbed through the skin. Heres how you can take special skincare during pregnancy. As always, consult your doctor before making any drastic and potentially harmful decisions.

Acne

• Even if you have not gotten pimples in the past decade, pregnancy might change that. Particularly around your chin and mouth. Hormones can wreak havoc on your skin, and acne outbreaks are the top skincare issue for pregnant women.
• You must take care of any acne outbreaks immediately or they will persist until you have your baby and possibly even afterward.
• Several over-the-counter treatments are effective, but be selective for special skincare during pregnancy.
• Avoid treatments that include benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and any retinoid. These ingredients are risky to use during a pregnancy. If you must use benzoyl peroxide, select a product that is five percent or less benzoyl peroxide.
• Also avoid oral antibiotics.
• Stay away from anything with hydroquinone as well. Its safety during pregnancy has yet to be tested.
• Look for sulfur-based treatments. Products with glycolic acid and alpha hydroxy acids are fine to use. At-home microdermabrasion programs are fine too. And witch hazel works great for some women.
• Turn to prescription drugs if over-the-counter remedies dont work. Prescription drugs use ingredients such as erythromycin cream and azelaic acid to do their job.
• As a last resort, turn to prescription oral erythromycin. It is generally safe to use.
• Use a makeup foundation for oily skin or try loose powder mineral makeup. Theyll soak up oil and wont aggravate skin that has acne. You can also use mattifying lotion and gel to wipe up excessive oil. Blotting papers help with this too.
• Resist the temptation to pop or pick at your blemishes. This slows the healing process and may leave scars.

Cleaning your face

Begin the process of cleaning your face with a mild cleanser. Look for a glycerin-based product or one that doesnt leave residue. For extra-dry skin, a soapless rinse off can prove both gentle and moisturizing. Stick to one or two cleanses a day. You dont want your skin to overdry.

Sunscreen

• Dermatologists recommend you use sunscreen of at least 15 SPF daily, regardless of the weather. Despite what you may have heard , studies have shown that none of the ingredients in sunscreen are harmful to a pregnancy. You may need to switch to sunscreen that has titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide if your skin is more sensitive than usual.
• Ensure that your sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Search out products that contain parsol 1789 or avobenzone on the label.

Discolored Skin

• Another word for discolored skin is hyperpigmentation. Like acne during pregnancy, its caused by hormone levels. Here are some ways you can address any hyperpigmentation you may experience.
• Exfoliate regularly to lighten your discolorations. Avoid using high concentrations (more than two percent) of salicylic acid. Skin care products have this safe dosage, but many professional salons use higher doses. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are fine to use.
• Start using sunscreen if you havent already! Whether it is raining or the sun is shining, get that sunscreen on your body. Slather it on generously. Remember to use protection of at least 15 SPF. A mineral-based sunscreen especially helps with preventing and reducing discoloration.
• Azelaic acid is a prescription medication that helps make brown discoloration look better. It has been shown safe to use during pregnancy.

Stretch Marks

• As pregnancy causes your skin to expand, you may see stretch marks. This occurs due to the disruption in the skins collagen and elastin support systems. After birth, the stretch marks will often be much minimized or go away. Genetic factors also determine how bad they are, so to a point, there is only so much you can do. Its also frustrating because there are no treatments that can make them look better or go away. You do have options for special skincare in pregnancy, so dont despair.
• Use a serum or non-fragrant plant oil to massage your skin. This helps it become more supple, which in turn, limits the damage stretch marks may cause.
• After youve had your baby and breastfed him or her, taking tretinoin can help stretch marks—but only a little. Other options include laser treatments, acid peels and intense pulsed light treatments.

Rosacea

• Rosacea is a common disease that results in redness, bumps and pimples on the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. It can also lead to eye burning and soreness. Doctors dont know what causes this condition, but it may be genetic in part. Pregnancy can make your rosacea worse, so you may need even more special skincare during pregnancy.
• Dont drink alcohol. You should be minimizing your alcohol intake for the babys health anyway, but alcohol makes rosacea worse. So do spicy foods.
• Other activities that lead to rosacea flares are exercise, exposure to sun and wind, stress and hot baths. This is because these activities cause your blood vessels to expand. You certainly dont need to stop any of the above. But use caution and partake of them in small doses until you know what a safe level for your rosacea is.
• Many people with rosacea use sunscreen with titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. And this is safe to continue during pregnancy. Other safe ingredients are metronidazole and azelaic acid.

Wrinkles

• Your baby will likely come out smooth with nary a wrinkle on their skin. but your pregnancy is likely to add a wrinkle or two (or more) to your body. Heres what you do to minimize these.
• Dont use prescription retinoids and over-the-counter items with retinol.
• Keep using skin care products that have antioxidants such as Vitamin C and skin-repairing treatments.

Makeup

• During pregnancy, you should definitely strive for less makeup than you would normally wear. Not only is it safer, its easy and quick. Use multi-function products to help you out.
• For example, a stick that doubles as foundation and concealer can balance out your skin tone, as well as cover blotches and smudges. If you wear lipstick, check that it contains protection against sun rays and is moisturizing.

Miscellaneous Tips

• Start using moisturizing body washes instead of soap. This is because soap can remove natural oils from your skin and lead to dryness. In regular circumstances, this may not have been noticeable, but a lot changes in pregnancy. Moisturizing body washes help keep moisture in your body and stave off dryness and itching.
• Your breasts will get larger and more sensitive during pregnancy. Your nipples and skin in that area, too, will be extra sensitive and vulnerable. Wear cotton maternity bras and use nipple creams.
• Avoid chemicals whenever possible. You never know what might make you allergic. Even accidentally inhaling something for a brief time can cause your skin to break out in rashes. Know the ingredients in the products youre consuming. Look out for irritants such as laundry detergent, perfumes and pet sprays.
• Eat healthy food to keep your skin healthy.
• Look for brightly colored fruits and vegetables. As well as nuts, beans, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods, sugar and saturated fats.
• Take showers of 15 minutes or less to help avoid dry skin. Drink plenty of water and use a humidifier at night if you need more moisture.
• Stay cool whenever possible.
• Visit a dermatologist if you notice any problems such as skin rashes, itchy skin or anything that concerns you.
• As you can see, theres a lot you can do to ensure special skincare in pregnancy. Wear sunscreen every day no matter the weather, go easy on the makeup, stay away from chemicals and keep your skin from drying out.
• Make sure any topical products youre taking have ingredients that are safe for pregnancy.