5 Skincare Tips for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy breakouts are caused by rising progesterone levels. Progesterone is sometimes caused the “hormone of pregnancy” because it is important for the development of the fetus. A rise in progesterone levels combined with a drop in estrogen levels leads to increased sebum secretion. While women with dry skin usually benefit from it because it gives them the so-called “pregnancy glow”, women who have oily or combination skin may get breakouts.

Another pregnancy-related skin problem is pigmentation. It is caused by a temporary increase in melanin, a naturally occurring pigment that determines the color of your skin, hair, and eyes. Increased melanin production results in spots that usually show up on the forehead, cheekbones, upper lip and chin.

Are there any ways to prevent or reduce pregnancy breakouts and pigmentation? Of course, there are! Here are some tips that will help keep your skin looking clean, fresh and glowing during pregnancy.

Keep It Simple

You don’t need lots of products to keep your skin clean and healthy during pregnancy. Keeping your skincare regime simple may be the best solution. Opt for natural cleansers and moisturizers that don’t contain fragrance, parabens, synthetic surfactants, phthalates, or any other potential irritants.

If you have breakouts, find a gentle cleanser with natural anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide and a light, but rich moisturizer. Retinoids, salicylic acid, and similar chemicals are to be avoided during pregnancy, as there is very little information on how they affect unborn babies.

The same applies to your makeup routine. You don’t have to avoid makeup (in fact, a light concealer may become your favorite to-go makeup product because of breakouts, blemishes and under-eye bags) but you should stick to chemical-free and non-comedogenic products where possible.

Don’t Go Overboard

Cleansing and exfoliation are the best ways to prevent acne but you should keep in mind that your skin is more delicate during pregnancy. Stay away from face washes with SLS/SLES and other harsh detergents, alcohol-based lotions and toners, harsh scrubs, and chemical based exfoliants. There are plenty of gentle scrubs that remove dead skins and excess oil in a delicate way and don’t damage the skin.

Use Sunscreen

UV radiation boosts the production of melanin (that’s how tan works) so to prevent pregnancy pigmentation you need to apply sunscreen every time you go out. If you already have pigmentation, you still need to apply sunscreen to keep it from aggravating. Get yourself a pregnancy-friendly sunscreen and wear a broad-brimmed hat for extra protection.

Stay Hydrated

Some women try to drink less during pregnancy because they want to prevent their feet and ankles from swelling. Oddly enough, swelling during pregnancy may actually result from not drinking enough, because your body starts to retain more water in order to prevent dehydration. Proper fluid intake during pregnancy will keep your and your baby healthy. It will also have a positive effect on your skin because healthy skin is hydrated skin, and drinking water is just as important to keep your skin hydrated as using moisturizer.

Try to Sleep Well

At lot of women have sleep problems during pregnancy, which negatively affects their skin, causing a dull complexion and dark circles under the eyes. We realize that it’s impossible to just tell someone to sleep and expect that this will work, but you do need to use any chance to relax and catch up on your beauty sleep. Believe us, it works.