You might have heard the rumors saying that pregnancy gives you a beautiful glow; fuller lips, visible glow and thicker hair, but what they didn’t tell you is you might experience pregnancy acne instead… Sigh.
It’s not uncommon for women to experience acne during pregnancy. In fact, it’s most common during the first and second trimesters. The cause? Androgens – which is an increase in hormones that can cause the glands in your skin to grow and produce more sebum, an oily, waxy substance. Sebum can clog pores and lead to bacteria, inflammation, and breakouts.
It’s hard to predict who will develop pregnancy acne. We do know – women who already experience breakouts during their menstrual periods are more likely to experience pregnancy acne. The good news is – if you are not one who develops acne during the first trimester, it’s highly unlikely you’ll have breakouts that are out of the ordinary during the second or third trimesters. Overall, luckily, pregnancy and postpartum acne is usually temporary and is likely to clear up once your hormones return to normal.
Managing acne when you’re pregnant can be a tough one – and that’s because most prescription and over-the-counter treatments come with a high risk of birth defects. In general, you should be avoiding any medication that has even a remote chance of harming your baby. The best way is to treat the acne using natural ingredients – if you do want to learn more about what you can do to treat pregnancy acne – read furthermore:
1. Probiotics – Your body needs beneficial bacteria to help digest food and keep pathogens and other nasties at bay. Supplementing with a high-quality probiotic is a good way to add beneficial bacteria back into your body for fermented foods are even better since they often include many more strains than supplements do.
2. Citrus Fruit – Citrus fruit like lemons and limes have what is called alpha hydroxyl acid. When you apply the juice of a lemon or lime onto the skin, it helps to unclog pores and shed dead skin cells. This fruit is supplied with astringent and antibacterial properties that make it as effective as an exfoliant. To use simply squeeze the juice from a lemon or lime and apply directly with a cotton ball. Leave this on for about 10 minutes or until dry, and then rinse with cool water.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar – Using a cotton ball or swab, soak with raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and apply to your skin to absorb the oil. Use a mixture of apple cider vinegar with a third of distilled water. This mixture creates a natural toner that is rich in naturally occurring enzymes and alpha hydroxyl acids.
4. Honey – Honey is packed with antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It’s also known to be very soothing to the skin. Mix a teaspoon of raw honey with some warm water and spread over the face. Afterwards, wash off with warm water or a clean washcloth.
5. Coconut Oil – Because lauric acid is a main component in coconut oil it can be used as a treatment for acne. You can use coconut oil in place of a moisturizer after cleansing or whenever your skin feels dry.
6. Oatmeal and Cucumber – Cucumber and oatmeal offer soothing and cooling properties for the skin. A great homemade treatment to use is cucumber sliced, ¼ cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey and a cup of oats. Combine together in a blender and place in freezer, in the morning apply application to your face for 10 to 15 minutes before washing off.
7. Oil Cleansing – With a combination of 1 part castor oil and 3 parts jojoba oil, use this mixture to cleanse your face daily. Cleansing your skin with oil helps to retain it’s natural moisture while clearing pores of dead skin cells, excess oil and other gunk.
8. Konjac Sponge – This type of sponge will clean and exfoliate your skin without any added soap or cleansers. Unlike other sponges, this type of sponge does not dry out the skin but will really clean it making it a great tool to use for skin problems like pregnancy acne.
Use the above when treating your pregnancy acne. It’s not that difficult to care for your skin during pregnancy. Here are some general tips you should consider to help your skin stay beautiful, glowing, and free of acne.
1. Don’t Over-Wash
Washing your skin too much removes its natural moisture. When you overdo it, it can then increase oil production and make your skin likely to breakout. When you wash try to avoid using very hot water as that is another way to dry out your skin.
Limit washing to two times per day and after heavy sweating. When it comes to washing, it’s important to remember to use a gentle, oil-free, alcohol-free and non-abrasive cleanser. You can opt to using a cotton pad or clean washcloth to lightly wash your face. When you’re finished, rinse your skin with lukewarm water, and then gently pat try and apply moisturizer.
2. Avoid Popping or Squeezing
The general rule of thumb for acne at any given time, DO NOT pop, pick, scratch, or squeeze acne sores. If you didn’t know by now, it’s because doing so will increase irritation, making it worse and can cause scarring. Also try your best to avoid touching your face as this can introduce bacteria back to your skin.
3. Be Aware of Your Diet and Drink a TON of Water
It’s essential you are eating a nutritious diet with fresh fruits and veggies, lean sources of protein and healthy fats like avocados and nuts. Try to avoid refined sugars and processed foods as much as possible.
It’s always important to be drinking your daily dose of at least 8 glasses of purified water. This will help keep your skin hydrated! Avoid carbonated beverages and too much caffeine.
4. Relax and Stop Stressing
Stress can be a factor of why you are breaking out. There’s no need to be stressing all the time anyway. Give yourself time to rest and relax – it’s good for you.
Overall, any kind of acne is not something you want to deal with at all but can happen when you least expect it. It’s necessary to avoid over the counter medications for the sake of your baby. Follow this guideline of tips and remedies and it will surely help you treat and prevent pregnancy acne.
Wear comfortable underwear to prevent vaginal acne and make sure you maintain its health and cleanliness.
Author: Usman Raza is a freelance writer, marketing specialist at KeevaOrganics.com and co-founder of UsmanDigitalMedia.com. When not working, he’s probably spending time with his family. Follow him on Facebook @usmanraza40 and Twitter @usmanintrotech.
