Pregnancy is a beautiful period in a woman’s life, but along with that comes a lot of physical and emotional changes in a woman’s body and mind. The most evident changes can be seen on a woman’s face. Some may find their skin glowing, while others may deal with various skin problems causing heartbreak every day. During pregnancy a woman goes through hormonal changes which result in an invitation to a lot of skin problems like melasma, dry skin, acne etc; but soon after the delivery these sign vanish. Pregnancy is a different state which requires a lot of care for the body and mind. A thorough check of the lifestyle is required to see whether an alteration needs to be done. Just following few simple steps you can really avoid many skin troubles and keep your skin glowing.
Some of the common skin problems during pregnancy are:
1. Melasma: During pregnancy your body goes through hormonal changes and produces a lot of hormones, which rises the production of melanin pigment causing dark brown patches known as melasma. These are often called as the mask of pregnancy. It often starts at the second trimester and mostly affected areas are the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. These dark brown patches can be seen as discoloration of the skin. It can get worse coming in contact with the UV rays, so it is always recommended to wear a nice sunscreen while outdoors. It has been noticed that these patches automatically fade away after some time. If they don’t you can get in touch with your doctor once you have stopped breastfeeding, he can prescribe you some medicines to help you fade away these patches.
2. Acne breakout: Depending on your hormones, your acne can get better or worse with pregnancy. Your chest and back may also get affected by this. It has also been seen that some women experience oilier skin. It is also recommended not to use any medication for this during pregnancy, as it may harm the foetus. The best way is to take care of your beauty regime and cleanliness.
3. Redness and flushing: During pregnancy your body produces more blood than normal to support the growth of your baby. Some women may notice it as a nice attractive glow, while others may experience worsening of their acne week by week. The best thing is to stay cool during this condition. Stay indoors and opt for cool beverages instead of hot tea or coffee. It is always good to carry a mineral water bottle while traveling to be well hydrated and if you want you can contact your doctor to see if any medication can be prescribed for that during pregnancy.
4. Stretch marks: During pregnancy your abdomen stretches and tightens to adjust your baby inside, which often leads to itchiness and dry skin. If care is not taken then it can leave stretch marks near and around your abdomen. To avoid this you can regularly apply moisturizing cream or olive oil on your belly which can give you relief.
Following some simple skin care steps during pregnancy, you can attain a glowing skin:
1. You should relax and rest as much as possible during pregnancy. Sufficient sleep helps keeping the mind and body healthy. Look for various methods of relaxation.
2. During pregnancy your skin dehydrates a lot so proper moisturizing of your skin is required. Use a suitable moisturizer and apply it regularly.
3. You can use a mild and non soapy cleanser to clean your face and neck to avoid clogging of pores and dry skin.
4. Wear loose and comfortable clothes to avoid rashes and discomfort.
5. Try giving your skin a suitable facial massage as that would help your skin to rejuvenate and relax.
6. Avoid exposure to the sunlight and use a good quality sunscreen.
7. Use a refreshing foot massage gel to give you relief from tired and swollen feet.
8. If you have extremely oily skin, go for face masks made of earth or clay. Avoid using products that contain AHAs, salicylic acid and glycolic acid.
9. Drink plenty of water or fluids and increase your intake of various fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables.
10. Check the products you had been using before pregnancy as you may find most of them containing ingredients unsuitable during pregnancy.