While pregnancy hormones can make some women's skin glow, it can trigger or exacerbate acne in others. Treating pregnancy acne is difficult because many acne medications and treatments are off-limits to pregnant woman due to safety concerns and possible risks to the fetus. However, there are a few things that can be done to help a pregnant woman successfully treat acne.
Step 1
Wash. Gently wash the area with a cleanser or soap and water twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once before going to bed. Take care not to scrub, as this can make the situation worse. After washing, pat your skin to dry it off instead of rubbing it.
Step 2
Keep your hair clean. Oil from dirty hair can easily be passed to the skin, so keeping your hair clean can help reduce or eliminate pregnancy acne.
Step 3
Check your moisturizer and makeup. If you use moisturizer or makeup, check to make sure it is oil-free and look for the words "nonacnegenic" or "noncomedogenic" on the label. If your current makeup or moisturizer does not contain these words, consider replacing with one that does.
Step 4
Avoid squeezing, rubbing or popping your pimples. This may exacerbate the condition by spreading the bacteria and oil that caused the pimples in the first place and may even lead to permanent scarring, warns the website BabyCenter.com.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor or dermatologist. Many prescription acne medications are not safe for pregnant women, but a doctor or dermatologist can help you explore your options. Although over-the-counter products with benzoyl peroxide are usually considered safe for pregnant women, according to the American Pregnancy Association, you should still talk to your doctor before using them.
Tips and Warnings
- Increasing your intake of vitamin A through dietary changes may also help treat pregnancy acne, suggests the website WhatToExpect.com. Good food sources of vitamin A include milk, carrots, fish and eggs. Keeping pillowcases, shirts, hats, scarfs and anything else that regularly touches your skin as clean as possible is another effective way to help avoid acne.
- Products containing salicylic acid and beta hydroxy acid should be avoided, even those available over-the-counter.
