How to deal with skin changes during pregnancy?

In your pregnancy, you will observe several changes happening to your skin. The following list mentions some common skin changes and how to deal with them during pregnancy:

Stretch Marks:

Stretch marks are most common skin changes occurring during pregnancy. Stretch marks appear as pinkish/reddish streaks running down your abdomen and/or breasts.

Exercising and applying lotions containing vitamin E and alpha hydroxy acids can help in the prevention of stretch marks. However, these remedies have not been proven medically to have a direct effect on stretch marks. If you find that nothing is helping you, take comfort in knowing that these streaks will lighten to silvery faint lines after delivery.

Mask of Pregnancy:

"Mask of pregnancy" also referred to as melasma and chlosma, causes dark splotchy spots to appear on your face usually on the forehead and cheeks and are caused due to increased pigmentation.

To prevent "mask of pregnancy", you need to wear a good sunscreen that is at least SPF 15 whenever you are going to be outside. You can also wear your favorite ball cap to protect your face from sunlight. Your skin being extra sensitive, the sun increases your chances of such dark spots appearing on your face.

Pregnancy Glow:

When you are pregnant your body produces 50% more blood, resulting in additional blood circulation through your body. This increase in blood circulation makes your face brighter.

If your skin becomes excessively oily you can use an oil free cleanser to clean your face.

Pimple Breakouts and Acne:

Pimples and acne may become more irritated during pregnancy.

You should follow a strict cleansing routine. Cleanse your face every night and every morning. Washing your face more than this can cause your skin to be dry.

Use an astringent to remove any remaining oil. Finally, apply an oil free moisturizer. If you experience problems with acne consult with your health care provider on acne treatment during pregnancy.

Varicose Veins:

Varicose veins are bulky bluish veins usually appearing on the legs during pregnancy as a result of your body compensating for the extra blood flow that is going to your baby.

What can I do? To prevent or decrease symptoms, you should:

• Avoid standing and/or sitting for long periods of time
• Walk as much as you can to help the blood return to your heart
• Always prop your feet up on a stool while sitting
• Wear support stockings
• Get enough vitamin C (as it helps keep your veins healthy and elastic)
• Avoid excessive weight gain

Spider Veins:

Spider veins are minute reddish tiny blood vessels that branch outward.

What can I do? Increasing vitamin C intake and not crossing your legs can help reduce spider veins. Spider veins can also be hereditary, in which case there is nothing you can do to avoid them. Luckily, these will mostly fade shortly after delivery. Laser treatment can also help.

Dry Itchy Abdomen:

As the belly grows, your skin stretches and tightens, causing very uncomfortable dryness and itching.

To help lessen your dry itchy abdomen, you must keep your abdomen moisturized. You can also use anti-itch cream like calamine lotion to help provide more relief. Cholestasis can be treated with certain medications. To help lessen PUPP your health care provider may prescribe oral medicine and anti-itch creams. Try taking a nice oatmeal bath to help relieve discomfort.

Linea Nigra:

Linea nigra is a dark line running from your navel to your pubic bone. During pregnancy this line darkens and is caused by the imbalance in hormones.

There is nothing you can actually do to prevent this from happening, but after your pregnancy this line will become paler.

Darkening of Freckles, Moles and Other Areas of Your Skin:

Increased hormones lead to changes in your skin pigmentation. Areas with dark pigmentation, such as moles, freckles, nipples, areolas, and labia, may become even darker.

There is nothing really that you can do to avoid this from happening. These darker areas may remain darkened after pregnancy. This change in pigmentation could be noticeable, but not very drastic.