It's fairly common for pregnant women to experience changes in their skin's texture and color, including outbreaks of pimples, medically known as acne. As the hormones that trigger acne will return to normal levels following the pregnancy, the acne is generally not a serious condition and will eventually fade with a healthy lifestyle. However, if you hope to clear up the condition faster, following a few simple preventative measures can restore your skin to a smooth and clear appearance.
Pregnancy Acne
During pregnancy, it's common to experience acne on various parts of the body. The breakouts typical during pregnancy are no different than normal acne and are not a sign of any irregularity or problem in your pregnancy. Just as in other cases of acne, your skin pores become clogged with excessive sebum, a type of oil. In addition to acne, some women experience other variations in their skin texture or color, with temporary blotches or red lines.
Causes
During pregnancy, your hormone levels dramatically change, causing your skin to accelerate its production of sebum and thereby causing acne. In addition, during pregnancy, your body distributes more blood to the blood vessels just underneath your skin. As a result, you may notice fine networks of red capillaries visible through the skin.
Preventative Measures
Part of a healthy pregnancy is a dramatic change in hormone production. However, you needn't necessarily get acne just because of the hormone surges. Regularly washing your body with a mild cleanser will reduce the chances of developing a breakout. You can also adopt general practices to keep your skin clean of excess oils, such as not resting your face in your hands. As you use your hands to touch many items and to perform many tasks, they have a good chance of accumulating oils, which you can transfer to other parts of your body by frequent touch. Avoid using oily cosmetics. If you have oily hair, pull it away from your face and shoulders. Shampoo it daily and avoid using oily products that can leach onto your forehead or around the temples. Apply a light, non-oily sunscreen whenever you go in the sun or, better yet, avoid excessive sun exposure. Rinse it off with a gentle cleanser afterwards.
Treatments
Given that outbreaks during pregnancy are formed the same way as regular outbreaks, you may be tempted to apply general acme medications to control acne. However, particularly during your first trimester, avoid using any acne medications that you need to take orally or that come by prescription. Isotretinoin, also known by the brand name Accutane, is an especially strong acne medication that has been linked to severe birth defects, making it inappropriate for women at any point in pregnancy. Even topical, over-the-counter treatments enter the bloodstream through the skin, potentially affecting the pregnancy. Consult with your OB-GYN before you begin any treatment.
