Pregnant Skin Special Care Tips

It is literally the gift of life, but pregnancy can come with a number of concerns, a lot of responsibility, and an abundance of questions.  This is especially true for those experiencing the miracle for the first time.  The resulting hormones can result in a wide variety of changes to the body, and among those is a long list of skin related concerns.  This article sets out to discuss some of those and the potential for resolving these issues naturally.

During pregnancy, there is little wonder about why skin would experience change.  After all, hormones race, and skin must stretch to unbelievable lengths during the process.  However, it isn’t just belly skin that sees the change.  Areas of changed color, texture, and sensation can occur all over the body.

Perhaps the most talked about, and definitely the most feared phenomenon of pregnancy is the stretch mark.  If you have them, you are not alone.  If you are scared to get them, perhaps you would feel better to know that the ‘badges of honor’ can be found on ninety percent of the women who have had children before you.  That being said, there are ways to help prevent or limit the number of stretch marks you get with pregnancy.  The simple act of keeping the skin moist is among the best.  While many creams are marked especially for this, simple natural oil will do the trick just as well.  It is important to mention, while talking about keeping the belly moisturized, that during pregnancy the skin must stretch, making it thinner and, in turn, this makes the body more susceptible to environmental factors because they can be absorbed so much more quickly.  These can act as allergens, producing a number of undesirable effects and could even act as contaminants for the baby.  Do be a smart shopper, and choose lotions and creams that are organic and provide natural moisture without the need for chemical alteration. Consider rubbing the belly and breasts with just a small amount of pure olive oil after a hot shower and you may find that you make it through with very few reminders aside from the adorable bundle of joy.  Other tricks to reducing your chances of permanent scaring are continuing with a safe exercise program and eating right during pregnancy.  The slower you gain weight, the more time the skin has to adjust.

Another area of concern during pregnancy is the face.  We have all heard the talk of increased acne and changes in pigmentation.  The “mask of pregnancy,” which is also known as melasma or chlosma, is the formation of dark splotchy spots on the face.  This is a result of hormonally- induced increase in pigmentation.  This is also what causes the Linea Nigra, a dark line that runs from the navel to the pubic bone.  While there is no known prevention for the latter, there are ways to prevent melasma from occurring, which includes protecting the skin when in the sun.  Keep the face covered with a large brimmed hat and apply organic sunscreen regularly.  Increased sun exposure always puts you at a higher risk of undesired changes in the skin. Both melasma and Linea Nigra should fade after birth.

The acne, which is another area of major concern for many women, is a result of changes to the thyroid.  During pregnancy, the thyroid speeds up.  This equates to, among other things, more sweat and more sebum.  Sebum is the natural oil produced by the body to keep the skin moist.  When there is too much sebum, the skin can become oily.  That means that there is also an increased chance of an acne breakout.  In order to prevent this, one should wash her face regularly.  There is rarely a need for a special cleanser.  Warm water and a mild soap can be applied and rinsed away with just the hands.  She might also choose to exfoliate regularly.  While this would not be suggested every night, using a mild exfoliant, even something as simple as ordinary salt, can remove dead skin cells, which could clog pores, and result in pimples.  After washing, apply a natural moisturizer so skin doesn’t get too dry, and your skin will thank you.

Finally, there is the matter of veins to be discussed.  Due to an increased blood flow during pregnancy, veins can become engorged.  Allowing the blood to settle to the lower extremities can result in something known as varicose veins.  These bulging bluish-purple veins are common, but unsightly.  The best ways to avoid them include avoiding standing for long, uninterrupted periods of time, walking regularly, propping feet when sitting, and increasing vitamin C levels.  This vitamin is well known for its part in vein and artery health.  It can also be used as a means of preventing spider veins.  Another common occurrence in pregnant women, spider veins, are clusters of very tiny veins, which accumulate near the surface, and can be seen through the skin.  While they are not entirely preventable, vitamin C can help, and more cases will fade after birth.  For those that don’t, there are new laser procedures, which can erase them.