I've been around a lot of pregnant women lately and let me tell you, these chicas look freaking gorgeous! Almost makes me want to get knocked up just so I can sport that glow–just kidding! But the funny thing is a lot of them just complain to me about all their new skin problems. That's right girl, the pregnancy glow might be real but there's one thing they never tell you and that's with pregnancy also comes quite a few skin woes. Believe me, morning sickness is not the only thing you have to worry about!
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"You're glowing" is what most pregnant women are used to hearing. But not everyone gets that lucky radiance. You'd be surprised how many preggo girls get dark blotches on their skin, rashes and even acne. YES acne!
"When you are pregnant, your body produces an enormous amount of growth factors and has a higher blood flow going through it, so you do get a rosy glow because of increased blood flow to the skin, but that increased blood flow can also lead to broken blood vessels known as spider angiomas," Dr. David Leffel, MD, professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and author of Total Skin tells WebMd.
These skin problems could be annoying as hell so it's important you find out about them ahead a time before you freak out. Here are five skin problems that totally happen during pregnancy!
Acne: Your hormones are all over the place right now which is why it's very likely you'll experience breakouts–sorry girl! It might be a few pimples here or there or it might mean cystic acne. Worst part is, most acne treatments are unsafe to use during pregnancy. Check out some ways you can deal with this pesky problem. But be sure to check with your doctor to see what he or she recommends!
Dark spots: With those pesky pimpes also comes dark spots and manchas. Some might fade away, some might not. But like I said, you have to avoid any kind of topical acne treatments especially if they contain ingredients like beta hydroxy acid, Differin or salicylic acid. Use gentle cleaners and moisturizers and check with your doctor before you use any creams. For dark spots, the best thing is just waiting, many times they fade on their own after birth.
Dryness: While some women may appearance oiler skin and breakouts, some might experience the opposite and that's called dryness. Keep your skin hydrated by using a gentle moisturizer and drinking plenty of water. Natural oils work wonders too!
Stretch marks: Stretch marks is usually a given when it comes to pregnancy but luckily there are ways to prevent either by keeping your skin constantly hydrated or by over-the-counter treatments like Mederma Stretch Mark Therapy ($33).
Melasma: Melasma, also known as the mask of pregnancy, is when your skin gets exposed to the sun and leaves your upper cheeks, forehead a tannish color due to excess pigment deposited by your skin's upper layers. "This is a similar phenomenon that occurs when women take oral contraceptives and very often it will go away after pregnancy," George Kroumpouzos MD, a dermatologist at South Shore Medical Center in Norwell, Massachusetts tells WebMd. If it doesn't go away, consult with your doctor after pregnancy about chemical peels and other possible lightening treatments.
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