During pregnancy, your body goes through many amazing changes. It is not surprising that your largest organ, your skin, also changes during pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, you may have acne as a result of all the pregnancy hormones surging through your body. The skin on your body also goes through changes. Because of how rapidly your body expands to accommodate the growing baby, your skin will stretch, leaving behind stretch marks. Paying attention to skin care can minimize these issues and help you stay beautiful through pregnancy.
Step 1
Wash your face regularly if you are experiencing problems with acne. If you have never been in the habit of using a facial cleanser before, now is a good time to start. For best results, wash your face in the morning and at night before bed. Consider reducing the amount of makeup you wear to allow your skin to breathe.
Step 2
Work to prevent stretch marks. Stretch marks are determined more by genetics than habits; if your mother got stretch marks during pregnancy, you are likely to get them too. They cannot be prevented, only minimized. Drink lots of water, eat a healthy diet and take your prenatal vitamins. Brush your skin or use a washcloth to massage and bring blood flow to the skin. Moisturize liberally and often, using a cream for pregnant women or any other thick moisturizer.
Step 3
Moisturize itchy bellies and sore feet regularly. During pregnancy, your belly gets itchy because the skin is stretching. Moisturize frequently, both to aid in smoother stretching and for relief. Feet get sore during pregnancy because of the extra weight, and moisturizer can help here as well. A moisturizer specifically labeled for foot care is more likely to be soothing, with cooling ingredients like peppermint oil and eucalyptus.
Step 4
Use nipple creams and ointments for sore nipples. While you can use regular lotion or moisturizer on the rest of your breasts, which may help prevent stretch marks, you cannot use it on your nipples. This is more important while breastfeeding, but still matters during pregnancy. According to Dr. William Sears, you should only use products marketed specifically for cracked or sore nipples.
Tips and Warnings
- Consider going organic. Your skin absorbs what you put on it, including the chemicals in skin care products. While the FDA regards all products on the market as safe, the government does not test skin care products for safety and many pregnant women prefer to minimize risks whenever possible. Continue using sunscreen as usual.
- Do not use products containing salicylic acid or retinol; these are not considered safe for use during pregnancy.
Member Comments