Acne goes well underway in adulthood, but it is a hassle when breakouts happen during pregnancy. It can be quite a hassle when your hormones go one way or the other that they will get worse you can’t control how you feel about them.
Around 50 percent of women suffer late acne problems but frequent breakouts are normal. While it clears up eventually, most women will not be so lucky. You will find that pregnant women with serious cases are the ones that have had acne breakouts before or right before their periods. If you just found out you are pregnant and have acne problems now, be ready for more.
Acne cysts and blackheads start appearing during the first three months, and can last within half a pregnancy or the whole time. Some say that it gets worse after the second trimester but clear up afterwards. Breastfeeding may prolong the acne period but just know that it will eventually go away.
Acne is caused by sebaceous glands producing oils on the skin that are producing too much due to hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance is one of the main pregnancy symptoms. The hormone Androgen, which produces more progesterone (important in fetus development) is high during pregnancy and makes these glands bigger and overproducing the sebum on the face and body.
Your first choice is to wash your face (especially around the hairline and jaw) three times a day with lukewarm water and clean with an oil-free skin cleanser and avoid irritating soaps. Mild lotions from Dove or Neutrogena are okay.
Drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated and don’t touch or irritate the pimples or acne or scars will appear. Vitamin A is important for skin care so eat the right foods for both you and your baby.
See a dermatologist if the acne is that serious and recommended creams will be given. Your baby’s health is number one priority so avoid taking any medicated creams and such before getting a doctor’s approval because the average acne creams contain chemicals like Acutane and Tetracycline that may cause birth or fetus defects.
Some daily over-the-counter creams that have benzyl peroxide and erythromycin are okay in small dosages but let the doctor give you the prescribed amount either way.
However, take it easy and clean gently otherwise your skin will be too dry and, along with the high hormone levels, cause the glands to release even more oil. Clean thoroughly and pat dry to remove excess cleanser only. Regarding hormones, they will eventually go back to normal and, like estrogen for example, they will help clear up the acne problem.
When the little miracle arrives, feel free to use any creams you think will work but remember that baby itching cream outweighs facial creams.
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Welcome to my website! I know how much it sucks to have acne and after many years of research and trying almost every product on the market I figured out what works and what doesn't work. When I was a model it was vital for me to fix my skin to look perfect for photoshoots - the pressure to look good was huge. Now as a Beauty Editor I love helping people find solutions for themselves. Good luck on your quest for clear skin.
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This website is not a medical reference, rather a starting point for further research.
Authors are not qualified doctors or pharmacists. Always consult your doctor before starting any course of treatment.