Pregnancy Skin Care Important Before, During and After Stages

Being pregnant can be one of the best times of your life and at the same time, one of the most difficult. You may face morning sickness, bloating, constipation, moodiness, and tiredness. With all of those issues, you may think skin care would be one of the least important things on your mind, though, actually, it can be very important throughout pregnancy.

Before Pregnancy Skin Care

Prior to getting pregnant, you should establish a healthy skin care routine that can be continued throughout the nine months you will be expecting. Discovery Health and American Baby provide a number of tips that can help you do exactly that. When it comes to cleansing your skin, you should typically steer clear of anything glycerin-based. Look for more natural products. Remember to keep using moisturizers and a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. If you don’t use sunscreen, the increased female hormone levels could cause skin discoloration during pregnancy. Start looking for makeup that will be easy to use and that will also contribute positively to the overall health of your skin. Now would be a good time to avoid any chemicals that could have questionable affects on your health.

During Pregnancy Skin Care

Many moms-to-be who already have oily skin will find that this problem gets worse during pregnancy. To prevent acne during pregnancy and the overall oily skin feeling without over-drying, you might want to look for products that contain witch hazel or alpha hydroxy acids. According to WebMD.com, you should avoid using certain chemical ingredients to treat your skin, including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinoids.

Another issue that can appear during pregnancy is known as polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP). The first sign is an itchy rash on the abdomen around the third trimester of pregnancy. According to the British Association of Dermatologists, the cause for PEP is not known, but physicians do know that the itching is followed by the development of rashes, raised lumps, inflamed areas, and hive-like marks. Unfortunately, this condition can spread over your body. Thankfully, the condition normally disappears when you are near the end of the pregnancy or after delivery. Topical steroid creams are commonly prescribed for the treatment of mild cases.

The American Academy of Dermatology also explains another skin condition common during pregnancy: melasma. What happens with this condition is that too much melanin ends up being produced by the body and causes dark spots to appear, primarily on the face. To prevent this from occurring or worsening, apply a sunscreen of at least an SPF 15 when you spend any time in the sun.

After Pregnancy Skin Care

The biggest skin care issue for women after the birth of a baby is stretch marks prevention. Only 10 percent of women escape these unsightly reminders of their pregnancy. If you want to keep the marks from being too visible, the best idea is to keep the areas moisturized. This actually keeps them looking full and prevents them from itching. If you apply sunless tanning products to the areas, you can also reduce their appearance. You might also want to consider prescription creams, such as tretinoin, or laser treatments to reduce or remove the stretch marks permanently.