Skin changes during pregnancy might have you thinking about stretch marks, but things go way beyond that. \u201cThe hormonal changes a woman goes through during the various stages of pregnancy may disrupt the skin\u2019s delicate balance, resulting in anything from dehydration to breakouts and hyperpigmentation,\u201d explains Dr Judey Pretorius, a biomedical scientist. <\/p>\n
When pregnant, your existing skincare routine might not cut it anymore, since hormonal changes result in different skin concerns. But it\u2019s not all bad. Here, all the ways your skin could change during pregnancy, and how to deal. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor most women, pregnancy brings on a radiant glow, especially during the first trimester,\u201d says Dr Pretorius. \u201cThis is due to increased blood flow, fluctuating hormone levels and increased oil production. However, this glow sadly doesn\u2019t always last, and as a woman\u2019s pregnancy journey evolves, she may begin to experience less desirable skincare changes.\u201d Sigh. <\/p>\n
Suddenly getting pimples everywhere? Blame your preggie hormones. \u201cAcne is extremely common among pregnant women, especially among those who have a history of acne,\u201d says Dr Pretorius. \u201cThe change in hormones and increased oil production that is responsible for that pregnancy glow may lead to clogged pores and an increase in breakouts. This may range from occasional breakouts to severe acne.\u201d Per experts, acne will fade once you give birth. <\/p>\n
What to do: <\/strong>While salicylic acid and retinoids are great at treating acne, they\u2019re off-limits while you\u2019re pregnant, because of possible birth defects. Instead, opt for active ingredients like vitamin C, azelaic acid and diluted tea tree oil that can clear up imperfections \u2013 and they\u2019re safe to use while you\u2019re expecting. <\/p>\n This vitamin C serum is packed with the good stuff. Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid minimise fine lines and brighten your complexion. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R299 at Faithful To Nature<\/p>\n Offering deep cleansing and mild exfoliation, this cleanser gently unclogs pores while soothing and calming skin.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R311 at Azelaic acid halts the overproduction of oils that cause acne. It also helps with hyperpigmentation. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R139 at Some may know this as \u2018the pregnancy mask\u2019. It\u2019s also known as melasma, a presentation of dark marks during pregnancy. \u201cMelasma is often symmetrical and occurs most commonly on the nose and cheeks. It may also appear on the upper lip and forehead. Anyone can develop melasma, but it is particularly common among women with darker skins,\u201d explains Dr Pretorius. A steep rise in oestrogen and progesterone causes ramped-up production of melanin, the stuff that colours the skin. \u201cIt usually develops during the second and third trimesters when these hormones are found in higher levels in the body,\u201d says Dr Pretorius. <\/p>\n What to do:<\/strong> To protect yourself, Dr Pretorius advises that you apply a broad-spectrum SPF to protect yourself from the sun\u2019s rays, which causes an uptick in melanin production. The good news? After pregnancy, melasma fades. Ingredients like glycolic acid and vitamin C work to counteract hyperpigmentation and are safe to use during pregnancy. <\/p>\n Glycolic acid, safe to use during pregnancy, goes a long way in fighting hyperpigmentation and dark marks, while visibly brightening skin. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R250 at Clicks<\/p>\n This smoothing treatment works to soothe skin and minimise imperfections. It also reduces blemishes and spots. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R375 at Clicks<\/p>\n This skin-calming serum helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles while preventing and diminishing hormonal pigmentation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R1155 at While you\u2019re carrying your bundle of joy, hormone production can also cause heightened skin sensitivity. This manifests as dermatitis and eczema. \u201cIt\u2019s important to avoid skincare ingredients that are harsh or drying, and to opt for soothing products free from fragrances and colourants,\u201d notes Dr Pretorius. Also, during this time, check products before using by doing a skin test on your arm. Use fragrance-free products for an irritation-free experience, and avoid harsh scrubs. <\/p>\n What to do:<\/strong> There are options that hydrate and soothe the skin when it\u2019s inflamed. Aloe vera is safe for use while you\u2019re expecting, as are soothing natural ingredients like lavender and cucumber. <\/p>\n These products, with soothing lavender and cucumber, plump and hydrate skin while protecting the skin barrier. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R819 at Dermalogica<\/p>\n A squalene concentrate soothes and calms irritated skin, while baobab moisturises intensely in the face cream. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R865 at Skoon<\/p>\n With hyaluronic acid to brighten and shea butter to moisturise, this lightweight moisturiser gets to work fast. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R345 at Goodleaf<\/p>\n If your skin is feeling extra parched, blame it on your hormones. \u201cHormone changes may cause skin to lose elasticity and moisture, which is why dry skin is a common concern during pregnancy,\u201d explains Dr Pretorius. <\/p>\n What to do:<\/strong> \u201cReplenish moisture by drinking plenty of water and by applying moisturising products containing hydrating and moisturising ingredients like hyaluronic acid,\u201d says Dr Pretorius. Squalene is a gentle ingredient that helps inject moisture, as is cocoa butter and coconut oil. <\/p>\n This moisturiser protects against water loss. Squalene strengthens the skin and prevents moisture from leaving. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R460 at Dermastore<\/p>\n This cleanser effectively cleans, hydrates and helps restore the protective skin barrier. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n R199 at Clicks<\/p>\n This intense moisturiser, ideal for extremely dry skin, helps repair the barrier and reduces flare-ups. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n As soon as you\u2019re pregnant, find out from your derm which products you should pause using. There are some treatments that you\u2019ll need to hold off on, like micro-needling and retinol treatments. There are also some products to not include. Natural products like tea tree oil, coconut oil and aloe vera are safe. \u201cAvoid products with high caffeine content, retinol (vitamin A) and salicylic acid, especially during the first trimester,\u201d says Dr Pretorius. <\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Skin changes during pregnancy might have you thinking about stretch marks, but things go way beyond that. \u201cThe hormonal changes a woman goes through during the various stages of pregnancy may disrupt the skin\u2019s delicate balance, resulting in anything from dehydration to breakouts and hyperpigmentation,\u201d explains Dr Judey Pretorius, a biomedical scientist. When pregnant, your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4229,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[966,968,969,970],"class_list":{"0":"post-4227","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-style-beauty","8":"tag-fitmama","9":"tag-pregnancy","10":"tag-skin-issues","11":"tag-skincare"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4227"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5019,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4227\/revisions\/5019"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Lelive All Glow\u2019d Up Brightening Serum <\/h3>\n
Maternology Maternal Cleanse<\/h3>\n
Biomedical Emporium<\/p>\nFundamentals Skincare Azelaic Acid <\/h3>\n
Fundamentals Skincare<\/p>\nHyperpigmentation during pregnancy <\/h2>\n
Skin Republic Glycolic Acid Serum<\/h3>\n
Avene Cleanance Smoothing Night Cream<\/h3>\n
Maternology Maternal Skin Stabilising Serum<\/h3>\n
Biomedical Emporium<\/p>\nSkin sensitivity during pregnancy <\/h2>\n
Dermalogica Sensitive Skin Rescue Kit <\/h3>\n
Skoon Basic 4 Sensitive Starter Kit <\/h3>\n
Goodleaf Rise Hydrating Day Cream <\/h3>\n
Dryness and dehydration during pregnancy <\/h2>\n
Kiehl\u2019s Ultra Facial Cream<\/h3>\n
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser<\/h3>\n
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm<\/h3>\n
Pregnancy skincare: what to avoid <\/h2>\n