How to Manage Skin Problems During Pregnancy
By Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick
From acne to stretch marks, spider veins to dryness, mommies-to-be often encounter a slew of skin issues during pregnancy. Get the skinny on skin care for pregnant mamas and learn how to safely and easily manage your skin woes.
Pregnant women love to hear people say, "You're glowing!" – and really mean it. But when you don't feel beautiful, when you can't hide the betrayals that your skin is committing right there out in the open, it's certainly difficult to believe that you are actually emitting a motherly glow. Rest assured, just like morning sickness, the suffering can't last forever. Here's how to cope with your skin's mutiny during pregnancy.
Breakouts? At my age?
Some pregnant women may experience such ferocious breakouts during pregnancy that it can feel like junior high all over again. Only this time the same methods of treatment are not necessarily recommended.
For any woman who's suddenly managing bumps and blackheads and blemishes, Michelle Young, master aesthetician and USANA Sensé educator, says, "Avoid acne medicated products. They can contain acne-fighting ingredients which are not suitable for pregnant women."
Instead, she recommends cleansing your face morning and night with a gentle, soap-free cleanser – even better if you can find one that contains active botanicals and is formulated without chemical preservatives. "Also, avoid heavy day creams," Young says. "Instead, choose a light, oil-free day moisturizer."
Your stretching skin
One of the most common skin issues in pregnancy is stretch marks. "Unfortunately, nearly 90 percent of pregnant women will develop stretch marks," says Young. If you're having a hard time thinking of these pink and silvery lines as anything but unsightly – rather than hard won "battle scars" – just know this: "There is no magic cure for stretch marks, but there are ways to help prevent them," says Young.
She recommends investing in body lotions and creams that contain powerful collagen-boosting ingredients and botanicals to increase skin's elasticity. "This will help skin stay smooth before, during and after pregnancy." Bonus: The lotion you use over your belly and breasts can also help with any dryness or itchiness you may be experiencing as the result of your stretching skin.
It's only temporary
Though the nine months of pregnancy can sometimes feel like an eternity, knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel – and a precious baby, too – can help ease your struggles with your fitful and unpredictable skin. "Most skin changes during pregnancy are temporary," Young assures.
"I would suggest eating a healthy, balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and sticking to a skin care regimen with quality products." In other words, be good to yourself – your body is doing some miraculous and intense work right now. Though some of the side effects of pregnancy may not do much for your skin (or self-esteem), rest assured that, just like those junior high breakouts, this too shall pass.
Source:
http://family.go.com/self/article-sk-951929-how-to-manage-skin-problems-during-pregnancy-t/
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