Beauty Guide

Dry skin

Hormonal changes will cause your skin to lose elasticity and oil, which leads to dry skin. This can easily be treated. Choose a safe, preferably unscented moisturizer to keep your skin smooth and fresh. Stay away from chemical-based treatments,as chemicals may be absorbed by your skin. It is always best to ask your doctor to recommend safe products.

Coconut oil and olive oil are the most popular moisturizers used by pregnant women, partly due to the antioxidants they contain that refresh and enrich your skin during pregnancy.

Drink lots of water! Water is essential to keep your skin hydrated and prevent dehydration, which results in dry and itchy skin. Drink no less than two to three liters of water per day.

As your belly grows, your skin may itch. This is a common complaint among pregnant women. Here also, natural moisturizes can help by reducing any itching and preventing dehydration. Moisturize your skin twice a day (morning and evening) to see the best results.

Pregnancy acne

Pregnancy can exacerbate your acne if you suffer from it already. However, the good news is that pregnancy acne usually resolves itself after you give birth.

Focus on what and how you eat. A healthy diet is the key to healthy skin. Stick to foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients and restrict junk food to once or twice a week only

Good skin care is essential for treating pregnancy acne. Try to avoid over-cleansing your skin as this can overstimulate your oil glands. Instead, limit cleaning your face to twice a day only. Use a cleanser that is oil- and alcohol-free. Always use a clean washcloth each time you wash your face to avoid spreading bacteria. After cleansing, rinse your skin with water and apply moisturizer. Ask your doctor to recommend the best products for your skin.

A charcoal mask may help purify your skin.

Hyperpigmentation

If you suffer from hyperpigmentation during pregnancy, use sunscreens, and avoid any cosmetic product that may result in an allergic reaction. The best you can do is to apply makeup to conceal the darkening spots on your face and body. They will gradually disappear after you give birth to your baby. If your condition worsens, your dermatologist will be able to recommend safe medical treatment.

Stretch marks

Many women suffer from stretch marks around their belly, breasts, hips, and thighs during pregnancy. Caused when the skin is stretched to its limits, stretch marks are tiny tears in the dermis, one of the layers of the skin’s tissues, and may be red, pink, yellow, or purple in color. They usually first appear during the second or third trimester, while some women only get them during the very last month of their pregnancy. One of the best ways to avoid having stretch marks is to gain weight slowly and gradually. Rapid weight gain can cause the skin to stretch excessively. It is also important to maintain a healthy weight during all the trimesters of pregnancy. Excessive weight gain can also lead to stretch marks.

Keeping your skin moisturized with oils can play a role in stretch mark prevention. Twice a day (morning and evening), rub oils into your belly, hips, thighs, and around your breasts to keep your skin smooth at all times. Maintain this routine before you enter your second trimester and keep applying oils throughout your pregnancy.

Sometimes stretch marks may be genetic and cannot be avoided. If you do end up with stretch marks, keep in mind that there are things you may do after your pregnancy to treat them. Talk to your dermatologist about laser treatments and other therapies to help minimize the appearance of stretch marks.