Now that you are pregnant, your body will go through a number of changes, including your skin.
You may see changes such as a sudden glow on your face or pinkish, reddish streaks on your stomach.
Were you looking forward to the “pregnancy glow”?
Few expecting mothers are that fortunate, and many endure at least a few skin changes, while others get hit by many skin changes in pregnancy that you can think of.
Keep on reading this article to know about the skin changes in pregnancy to prepare yourself for this magical journey. We will also discuss tips and tricks to keep yourself beautiful.
Table of Contents
When Do Skin Changes in Pregnancy Start?
It depends.
Many women detect skin changes as early as the first trimester, including rashes, redness, acne, discolorations, and other wonderful (not!) breakouts.
Others don’t notice changes until the second or third trimester.
However, they’re so prevalent that it’d be unusual if you didn’t have one at some point during your pregnancy.
What Causes Skin Changes in Pregnancy?
Again, it’s those pregnancy hormones at work, that cause your pores to secrete too much oil, exposing you to heat rash and producing discoloration on your face, legs, palms, and soles.
You have a recipe for surface inflammation when you combine your lowered immune system (to protect your baby) with stretched blood vessels.
Skin Changes in Pregnancy: What to Expect?
Your skin is a living organ that will expand around your growing and developing baby.
As this happens and depending on your genetics you may experience:
That Pregnancy Glow and Clear Complexion
Experts believe that a combination of hormones, oil, and a 40% increase in blood volume during pregnancy causes the pregnancy glow.
The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy provide extra oxygen and nourishment to all organs, including the skin.
Weight increase, which ‘fills out the skin and ‘tightens’ it, making it appear smooth.
Dark Skin Patches
Melasma, which appears as big, dark blotches on the face, affects almost half of pregnant women.
This hyper-pigmentation, often known as the ‘mask of pregnancy,’ is most commonly present symmetrically on the cheeks, nose, and forehead.
Estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which controls skin color – are all at their peak during the third trimester.
How to Prevent Dark Skin Patches?
Pregnant women, unfortunately, have few alternatives for preventing melasma.
To prevent it from getting worse, stay out of the sun and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (which blocks ultraviolet A and B rays).
After you’ve finished breastfeeding, you can use licorice, vitamin C, kojic acid, soy, or retinol-based lightening creams.
Read more about the benefits of breastfeeding that are amazing for your baby.
Breakout: The Nasty Acne on Face
According to the top reviewed gynecologist in Lahore, Dr Maria Imran “Increased progesterone levels also cause a rise in “sebum (oil) production, resulting in breakouts, and acne on your face.”
As a result, choose acne products with caution.
How to Treat Acne on Face in Pregnancy?
Because of the risk of birth abnormalities, avoid products containing retinol, retinoids, and salicylic acid.
Vitamin A derivatives such as retinols and retinoids can cause birth abnormalities when taken in excessive concentrations. So, use these chemicals in moderation.
You can use some natural remedies like tea tree oil and lavender oil.
Hair Everywhere
The drawback of thick, quick-growing hair? It doesn’t just affect your head; it also affects your face, bikini line, underarms, and legs.
How to Deal with Excessive Hair During Pregnancy?
Depilatories and bleach creams are appropriate for minor places such as the lip, but avoid broad regions such as the bikini line.
Caution: Active chemicals in these goods, such as barium sulfide powder and calcium thioglycolate, may get absorbed into your bloodstream and damage your unborn child.
Even routine procedures like waxing or depilatories can be very uncomfortable and result in outbreaks or rashes. If this is the case, shaving may be a better option.
Furthermore, the effect is just temporary.
Hair, even on your head, begins to fall out about 3-6 months after delivery, a condition known as telogen effluvium.
So wait till things have calmed down before scheduling laser hair removal.
Sensitive Skin
During these nine months, your emotions aren’t the only thing that’s sensitive.
Pregnancy might make skin more sensitive to items or materials that have never affected you before.
Irritation from jewelry that you may have worn your entire life is a common problem.
Pro Tip: Always try new skincare products on your wrist or behind your ear before using them, and choose gentle, fragrance-free products.
Moles
Moles may grow in size or new ones may appear.
Pyogenic granulomas, black, oozing growths sometimes known as ‘pregnancy tumors’ might appear on the hands or in the mouth in certain women.
What to Do About these Moles that Form in Pregnancy?
Though most moles, spots, and pigment patches are innocuous, you should consult a dermatologist if you notice a new or changing mole, spot, or pigment patch.
Skin malignancies can appear during pregnancy, so it’s a good idea to have them inspected. It’s difficult for the normal person to figure out which ones are benign.
If the moles aren’t dangerous, you can wait until after the baby is born to have them removed. If they’re malignant, however, don’t put off treatment. Even during pregnancy, they can be surgically addressed.
Dark Stripe on Abdomen
A dark black, vertical line termed a ‘linea nigra’ runs from the belly button to the pubic area in about half of pregnant women.
It’s caused by an increase in melanin synthesis during pregnancy.
Higher estrogen levels in the body ratchet up pigment-producing cells, causing them to go into overdrive with melanin.
It’s possible that your nipples will darken as well.
Don’t worry, this stripe and dark nipples both go away after the baby is born.
Varicose Veins
There’s a downside to the increased blood volume that brings a glow to your cheeks: It also puts pressure on leg veins, causing painful swelling.
Varicose veins are abnormally stretched, bulging veins protruding from the skin. Faulty vein valves or weak walls are frequently the cause.
What to Do about Varicose Veins in Pregnancy?
Exercise is the antidote, as it improves circulation and prevents blood from pooling.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks appear in many pregnant women during the last three months of their pregnancy.
They commonly occur on the stomach, however they can also appear on the upper thighs or breasts.
What to Do about Stretch Marks in Pregnancy?
Stretch marks are not harmful, and they will dissolve into white scars when your skin shrinks and the stretch marks diminish.
However, exercising, hydration and lotions that contain vitamin E and alpha-hydroxy acids have been said to help in the prevention of stretch marks.
Simple Tips to Deal with Skin Changes in Pregnancy
These skin changes in pregnancy may not always be in your control, there are simple ways in which you can curb them as and when they crop up:
- Chemical based cosmetics may aggravate your skin issues, so use organic products as much as possible for your face.
- Keep yourself hydrated at all times to decrease the incidence of acne-related problems.
- If a product does not suit you, stop using it right away.
- Consume a nutritious, well-balanced diet that is high in micro and macronutrients.
- Make sure you get lots of exercise.
- Bathe on a regular basis.
Putting it all Together!
Although these changes may appear to be overwhelming, there is no need to be concerned because most of them will fade away after delivery.
The benefit of putting up with these changes is that this bundle of joy will be here in a few months. All of these issues will vanish in the blink of an eye.
If you are feeling conscious about skin changes in pregnancy, consult with a well-known dermatologist around you.
