From spider veins to acne, how do you handle the most harrowing skin conditions during pregnancy? Most women are totally unprepared for the effects of pregnancy hormones on their once-glowing complexion. After a few months of being pregnant, your skin may get ravaged by flakes, blotchy veins, cystic acne, and other conditions.
Pregnancy hormones can cause havoc on the skin at the most annoying times, causing one or a combination of the following skin conditions:
Stretch marks
Over stretching of the skin as your body grows results in red, white, or purple striations. They often appear on the abdomen as the connective tissues underneath the skin tear to accommodate the fetus growth. They may also appear on hips and breasts. While stretch marks rarely cause any complication, they are cosmetically unappealing.
Acne
While this condition may not be as severe as it was in your teen years, it is still annoying. Strictly avoid oral medications like Accutane as they’ve been linked to birth defects. Oil-clogged pores with excess dead skin cells and dirt will often lead to acne. Bacterial infection can further cause eruption of pimples and inflammation. In pregnancy, the hormones circulating throughout the body simulate the oil-producing glands to increase their sebum production.
Skin tags
These are small nodules attached to the skin by a stalk. In pregnancy, skin tags may grow beneath the breasts, or in the folds of the skin in the armpits. There may be some hormonal involvement contributing to their growth, but they are usually caused by skin rubbing against skin. The tags are soft growths of consistent blood vessels and collagen fibers covered in skin.
Red patches & flaky skin
As with several conditions, hormonal changes during pregnancy can impact psoriasis: this is a chronic skin disorder in which skin patches become inflamed in red color and covered by flaky skin. The outbreak is the result of the abnormal growth of skin cells, which causes a build-up leading to plaque. In some preexisting cases, women may see improvement in the condition during pregnancy.
What treatment options do you have?
Most of the treatment options revolve around over-the-counter medicines, home remedies and natural treatment alternatives. For example, pregnant women can play it safe while trying to address acne breakouts by using sulfur, lactic acid, or tea tree oil. Most of these ingredients have passed screening for teratology. For dry skin, a moisturizer or gentle lotion is recommended. But if you get nasty sensations because of the stretching, try a warm oatmeal bath.
Skin tag removal products and natural treatment alternatives for skin conditions can help in avoiding surgical treatment by a dermatologist and over the counter creams that may not be recommended during pregnancy. Most of the homeopathic formulas can be applied directly on the affected areas of the skin without any side effects.
Pregnant women may also utilize gentle at-home polishing kits and scrubs to rejuvenate the skin. A micro-Dermabrasion Kit can be used to exfoliate crystals to remove dead skin cells and moisturize hydrating freshly resurfaced skin. Creams with Vitamin C will boost cell turnover and go deep into the skin’s surface to reduce the appearance of age spots.
Bleaching agents should be avoided during pregnancy. Chemical sunscreens should also be discontinued as they are thought to affect the bloodstream and potentially harm the fetus.
