How Pregnancy affects the skin


Posted on September 19th, by The Skiny in Dermatological Advice. No Comments

How Pregnancy affects the skin

Pregnancy Skin Care

Written by Kelsey McGillis

So you found out that you’re pregnant?! What an exciting time, but in the flurry of congratulation texts, balloons and flowers, are also a million things to do! From organizing your baby registry, to building the crib, it’s one of the busiest times of your life. But amongst all this baby-craziness, make sure to make a little extra time for yourself. Your body is going to change a ton during this time, and the body part that often goes un-accounted for is your skin! Read on for some common pregnancy-skin symptoms, and how to handle them:

Acne: With the increased and ever changing hormones in your body, many pregnant women experience acne. Whether you’re a life-long sufferer or it has hit you out of nowhere, it can be so frustrating. And while treating this acne, a bun in the oven means you must be cautious of what treatments are safe for you and baby. Make sure you consult your family doctor or dermatologist before using any topical treatments. Resident skincare expert, Dr. Lisa Kellett recommends “Mechanical peels, such as diamond peels, are safe and help get skin cells turning over to improve the overall look of your complexion.”

Melasma: Though it can affect anyone, anywhere on the body, this discolouration is particularly common on pregnant women’s faces. So common in fact, that its’ other known name is “pregnancy mask”. This group is particularly targeted because of their high estrogen levels, further aggravated by the sun. Dr. Kellett advises using a broad spectrum SPF 30+ every day to prevent melasma. Once the baby is born, Kellett says that bleaching creams, chemical peels and light treatments, such as lasers, can help lighten your skin – under a doctor’s supervision of course.

Stretch marks: Perhaps the most common pregnancy symptom, it’s crucial to apply proper lotions and oils to prevent stretch marks as your belly expands. However, after the baby bliss wears off and you’re left with some marks, what do you do? To start, realistic expectations are crucial. As Kellett advises “It’s not like a tattoo; we can’t guarantee it’s going to be gone. It’s a matter of saying: ‘I’m always going have it, how can we make it look better?” She explains that your best bet is reducing their appearance is in a prescription-strength vitamin-A cream, once you check in with your family doctor for safety.





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