Pregnancy is a sensitive period during which you will notice a lot of changes happening to your body. In the first trimester your skin may be particularly affected. You may notice that it becomes oily and has a tendency for breakouts.
Why is your skin oily during pregnancy?
“The primary cause of acne during pregnancy is the fact that your hormone levels are increased, which causes your skin to produce more sebum,” says Dr Sean Burnet from Specialist Clinics of Australia.
Dr Burnet explains that it’s impossible to predict who is going to develop an acne problem during pregnancy and it is also recognised that some women already struggling with an acne problem have actually noticed a great improvement in their skin condition while being pregnant.
However, if you have a history of acne or are prone to acne flares at the start of your menstrual cycle, you might be ready that the acne problem is going to show in the first trimester of pregnancy. If it doesn’t show then, it is unlikely that you’re going to struggle with acne in the remaining two trimesters of your pregnancy.
Managing acne when pregnant
When you develop an acne problem during pregnancy, managing it might be tricky. “Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs put the fetus at high risk in developing defects,” says Dr Burnet.
This is why you have to be extremely careful when dealing with this problem and avoid any kind of prescription acne medications or over-the-counter chemical spot treatments. Instead, turn to these great home-remedies that will be most beneficial for your baby.
Proper hygiene is the most basic rule
The most basic thing is to maintain a proper hygiene routine starting with washing your face 2-3 times a day. This clears the sebum and lets your skin to stay clean. Use warm water and a gentle, soap-free, alcohol-free, non-abrasive cleanser. It’s best to combine it with a washcloth for gentle exfoliation.
If you don’t have conditions for washing your face, use rice paper that will conveniently absorb the extra oil from your face. Also, it’s good to switch to an oil-free moisturiser and foundation.
Keep in mind that washing your face more often than that will not necessarily help your oily skin and acne problem. Your body might receive a signal that important natural oils are being stripped away and it will stimulate skin’s oil glands to produce more sebum.
Other things you can do when battling oily skin during pregnancy
- Balanced diet. Make sure that you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Avoid sugar and saturated fats. Also, keep your salt in check. This will not only help you maintain a healthy skin but it’ll also support your weight balance.
- Drink water. This seems an obvious thing but we often forget about drinking water. Pregnancy is a time when you should keep special attention to this because you’re not responsible only for yourself now. Water keeps the organs and digestive system operating at optimum level. It flushes toxins out of your body, which otherwise escape through the skin contributing to acne.
- Vitamin B2. Choose food that is rich in this vitamin as its deficiency can aggravate oily skin problems. You’ll find Vitamin B2 in greens such as spinach, beet greens, and asparagus. Also in beans, yogurt and almonds.
- Professional facials. Do not squeeze or pop your pimples as the results are not worth the temporary relief – permanent acne scars are much worse to get rid of. If you have clogged pores, get a professional facial.
- Homemade remedy. If your acne problem is overwhelming, you can try this homemade remedy: create a mixture of 1/3 water, 2/3 pure witch hazel and a few drops of Tea Tree essential oil. Shake it up, pour some out onto a cotton pad and clean your face with it a few times a day. The Tea Tree essential oil has antiseptic and antibacterial qualities that might prove helpful in fighting oily skin and acne.
“If you’re thinking of using anything else than the natural ways for battling the problem, you should consult your doctor,” says Dr Burnet.