5 Skin Care Tips during Your Pregnancy

It’s evident that pregnancy can change the way you feel, behave, and how the body looks. Aside from the emotional roller coaster and expanding waistline, pregnancy also affects the skin in different ways. Skincare changes during pregnancy can feel isolating. Some women may develop irregular patches on their face while others may see their skin darken a little, either in small areas or all over. Breakouts, skin tags, varicose veins, and heightened skin sensitivity are also changes that may occur while expecting.

You may try to resolve these skincare issues during pregnancy with a bit of skin care, but your usual products may not be as safe for you and your baby during this sensitive period. What you put on your skin can affect your baby’s health as skin care ingredients can enter the bloodstream and pass through the umbilical membrane to the baby when they break down. Not sure how to take care of your skin during pregnancy? Here are some tips to help you out.

1. Talk to a dermatologist and your obstetrician

Skin care products are generally safe to use, but they may be considered harmful to a fetus. Going to a dermatologist and checking with your obstetrician helps you know which items are safe for you and your baby, especially if you’re trying to manage a condition like acne or hyperpigmentation. This extra step also gives you access to the right treatments since most over-the-counter skin care products are unsafe for pregnant women.

 2. Use fewer products

Less is more when it comes to skin care during pregnancy. Skin care products are formulated with different ingredients to give you their full benefits. But since you’ll need to avoid certain ingredients while expecting, you’ll also be using fewer products and will be restricted to non-toxic beauty items for a while. Here are some ingredients that you should steer away from in the meantime:

• Retinoids – usually used to treat acne and are seen in anti-aging products.
• Hydroquinone – an ingredient used to lighten the skin.
• High doses of salicylic acid – a compound that helps remove dead skin cells and decrease inflammation.
• Arbutin – a whitening agent used to target dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and scars

These are just some of the many ingredients found in your usual skin care products. Many more might not be okay for you to use, since everyone’s skin and pregnancy are different, so getting expert advice is still your best bet.

3.Don’t forget to moisturize

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause the skin to dry out. Symptoms associated with dryness, like flakiness and itchiness, also occur as your skin loses its elasticity and moisture due to an expanding belly. Moisturizing daily can help reduce or even prevent these issues from developing.

Opt for a hyaluronic acid (HA) moisturizer to keep your skin properly hydrated. HA is among the compounds that are considered safe to use during pregnancy. It helps improve your skin’s hydration barrier and even minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face. This skin care ingredient is also safe to use on all skin types and is usually hypoallergenic.

4. Opt for a physical sunscreen

Sunscreen is important for any skin care regimen whether or not you’re pregnant. However, you might want to consider switching to physical sunscreens for the time being. Physical sunscreens (a.k.a mineral sunscreens) are usually formulated with zinc oxide and titanium oxide. While these ingredients may seem intimidating, the Food and Drug Administration recognizes them as safe and effective components.

Additionally, the skin does not absorb mineral-based sunscreens when it’s applied — reducing the chances of it entering the bloodstream and reaching the fetus in the womb. However, this variant may leave a white cast since it simply sits on top of the skin. You may opt for one that is tinted to avoid this visible layer.

5.Use azelaic acid for hyperpigmentation and acne

If you’re worried about uneven skin color due to the rise of dark patches on your skin, consider using products with azelaic acid. This ingredient helps in cell turnover and stops the spread of discolored skin cells. It can also minimize hormonal breakouts as it clears out your pores of bacteria and reduces skin inflammation.

Moreover, Azelaic acid’s ability to encourage cell turnover makes it an effective product to treat acne scarring. This chemical compound comes in prescription strength, usually with 15% to 20% azelaic acid content, but there are over-the-counter products that contain this ingredient. One thing to keep in mind is that over-the-counter versions may have much less azelaic acid content compared to their prescription form counterparts.