I wrote a while ago that we had had a number of emails about skin problems during and after pregnancy. Since then, we've had quite a few more.
Having had a baby fairly recently (well, two years ago but it seems like yesterday what with the ongoing and endless fatigue), I do remember that the skin changes do take you by surprise. I had thought everyone 'glowed' during pregnancy but my experience, and that of my friends, was that we actually found our skin was worse - spotty but very dry and ultra sensitive. As an aside, skin does glow - caused by an increased volume of blood to the cheeks, resulting in an attractive blush - but if you are suffering from acne at the same time, the visual effect isn't quite as pleasingly aesthetic!
That's quite apart from all the other afflictions that occur: a fine down on your cheeks and jawline that makes you feel like a small, furry creature (that does go thankfully) and brown spots and patches. And then there's stretch marks. I know it's hard to take on board but if you're going to get these - and not everyone does - no amount of slapping on moisturiser or body cream will help prevent them (they will, however, keep your skin moisturised) whatever all the advice or product marketing says to the contrary. Your best guide is to ask your mum what happened to her. If she didn't get them, there's a good chance you will avoid them too.
The brown patches, called chloasma and commonly called 'the mask of pregnancy', are areas of pigmentation which usually appear on the cheeks, forehead and neck. They are caused by the hormones oestrogen and progesterone stimulating the production of melanin. Annoyingly, they can't be prevented (not everyone gets them, I hasten to add) but can be minimised with the use of sunscreen and by staying out of the sun. They do fade but, in my experience, do not disappear completely.
Anyway, back to the spots, dryness and sensitivity....My experience seems to be shared by those who have emailed Queen.
"Now that I'm pregnant my skin is getting even worse with more red spots and dry spells. Do you have any advice on what sort of skin care I need that will actually improve my skin's condition," says one woman.
Another says: "My skin used to be oily, but during pregnancy and since having a baby it's been quite dry."
Someone else writes saying she has always had sensitive skin but that, during her current pregnancy, Nivea baby sun lotion has caused an outbreak of urticaria (an itchy rash caused by an allergic reaction to anything from food to sunlight to prescription drugs). She is now finding it impossible to use anything on her skin without further irritating it and is desperate to find some skincare and make-up products she can use before she goes to a number of weddings later in the year.
Hormonal changes do increase skin sensitivity during pregnancy and some women do find they become irritated by products - both cosmetics and household detergents - that they have previously used without problem. Spots and acne, are caused by increased sebum production during pregnancy, another result of all those hormones surging around the body.
These extremes should stop once your baby is born so our advice is not to stress about your skin. The best thing you can do is to support it during pregnancy by going back to basics and keeping things as simple as possible (the Queen philosophy for all skin!). Drastic changes and trying out numerous different products will only make things worse.
So, here's the Queen guide to looking after skin during pregnancy:
I must mention that the other great thing about Queen products is they can be used on your baby too. Our Medicated Cleansing Lotion is a fabulous alternative to wipes or as a supplement to wipes (you should never just use wipes on a baby's bottom but should always follow with lotion) and our Skin Cream is a great barrier cream. I've always used both of these, as have my friends, and our babies have NEVER suffered from nappy rash, not a claim many people can make, I think.
Right well, I am off to update our sensitive skin tips blog at http://skinsensitive.wordpress.com.
Have a good weekend.
The Queen Team
2 comments:
When discussing skin care during pregnancy-it is imperative to note that not every brand screens against ingredients linked to birth defects.
My OB told me about a brand called Belli when I was pregnany-she said it was the only brand she could recommend that her patients use because they are the safest.
My favorite was the Anti-Chloasma product and the lotion for dry skin!
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Acne Bacteria: The Myth and the Facts
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