The span of pregnancy brings in a lot of changes in a woman’s body. They don’t just start showing different physical appearances but also have several hormonal changes. These changes affect them physically which means, it affects their skin, hair, body structure, body weight, and more.
The hormonal changes leave an impact on your skin and they are inevitable with time. You may experience dry skin, dark patches, stretch marks, dark spots, oily skin, moles, pimples, itchiness, and more.Embrace Grace is a platform which guides lot about how to deal with everything properly during pregnancy.
All of it happens to your body due to the unavoidable hormonal surge. To act on this situation you can take help of your regular skin care products, but your usual skin care products can turn out to be harsh for your skin. This happens because your skin is now super sensitive towards everything.
How to maintain skin when expecting?
Skin sensitivity will fade away after your baby is born. But you need to change your skin care products for the time you’re expecting. There are certain products which allow you to maintain healthy skin during pregnancy. Here, we will discuss the products which you can use during pregnancy for your super sensitive skin. You cannot use any regular product as it might harm the baby, so you need to be more careful.
Here are some ingredients which you need to avoid during your pregnancy period as well as post-pregnancy period too. Check the composition part of the product you use. If there are ingredients that you shouldn’t use when expecting, you must stop using them. Examples of such ingredients are;
- Retinoid –Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, Differin, are types of products that are high on a retinoid. Even though very little of it gets absorbed into the skin, your sensitive skin gets affected by it.
- Tetracycline – This ingredient found in acne treating products can affect the bones and teeth of the developing baby.
- Salicylic Acid – Even though there is very little of this ingredient applied to skin care products, dermatologists suggest avoiding it during pregnancy.
- Benzoyl Peroxide –Benzoyl Peroxide might or might not leave an adverse effect on the skin during pregnancy, but dermatologists suggest avoidance.
- Hydroquinone – This element surely gets absorbed by the skin and acts like a skin whitening agent. Studies suggest that it has an adverse effect on the skin during pregnancy period.
Skin products you can use during pregnancy
Now when you are aware of what to avoid during pregnancy, let us inform you what skin care products you can use during pregnancy. Here are the products listed for you:
- Facial mineral sunscreen
Facial mineral sunscreen is a great option to safeguard your skin from the sun during pregnancy. It contains zinc oxide with little or zero amount of titanium dioxide. This product helps in masking the dark and greasy patches, redness and dark spots on the skin. It effectively reduces them and helps you get clear skin. These patches often occur in the forehead, chin, lips, and cheeks. It also consists of niacinamide which is safe for use during pregnancy.
- Face Wash
Use face wash which is mild on your skin. Go for the mild, fragrance-free face wash which also has a low amount of soap included in it. Wash your face twice a day and keep your skin cleansed.
- Acne Treatment
There are a couple of acne treatment products which do not contain Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid. These products are safe for use during pregnancy to fight acne germs. It doesn’t matter whether you use an anti-acne face wash or scrub or pack until they have the restricted ingredients.
- Exfoliant
Products containing glycolic acids are good for both the mother and the baby. Skin exfoliants containing this ingredient are completely safe for use during pregnancy. It effectively reduces the effect of hyper-pigmentation and keeps the skin cleansed. It also keeps the skin moisturized with the help of amino acids and essential oils present in it.
- Toner
Toners which have no added fragrance, parabens and dyes are healthy for the super sensitive skin of the mother as well as the baby. It has zero side effects and works brilliantly. So, if you have oily skin which is now more sensitive, look out for mild toners for effective results.
- Facial Moisturizer
The hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your skin, dry, harsh and itchy. The best way to fight these symptoms is by using a facial moisturizer. Moisturizers containing hyaluronic acids are good for the skin during this period. As it is a naturally produced acid, it has no side effects on the skin. It moisturizes the skin and lasts for a long time. It also acts as an anti-aging element.
- Eye cream
Dark circles are a common thing during pregnancy, and the consumption of coffee also enhances the effect on your skin. The first thing you should do is restrict coffee consumption, get as much sleep as you can. Also, use an eye cream which reduces dark circles. Any eye cream is effective on your skin as they have very little side effects. Dermatologists suggest using eye cream containing green tea extracts.
- Stretch mark cream
The occurrence of stretch marks during and after pregnancy is a common factor, but a lot depends on genetics. To avoid stretch marks you need to keep your skin moisturized. Stretch marks are usually found in the belly and waistline region after pregnancy. This occurs due to the hormonal alterations in the body. Using stretch mark cream is a great option for you to reduce them. The occurrence is inevitable but can be controlled too. In most cases, the marks vanish with time after pregnancy but do need your efforts too.
You shouldn’t worry or think that your skin will not go back to the youthfulness it had. Pregnancy doesn’t damage your skin but needs care and maintenance. To look after it from the beginning, you must use the right skin care products.
