When you’re pregnant, your skin has a mind of its own, much like your body. Pregnancy brings about a slew of hormonal changes. One of them is a shift in the activeness of the oily secretory organ in the skin. This signifies a change in oil production, which can clog ducts and cause acne. That is when you feel the need for acne treatment products during pregnancy.
However, pregnancy acne is not permanent and it will regress once your body sets back to your pre-pregnancy stage. This article takes you through the causes of pregnancy acne, preventive measures, the best products you may want to consider to manage pregnancy acne and how to choose them.
In This Article
- What is Pregnancy Acne?
- Causes of Acne During Pregnancy
- How to Prevent Acne During Pregnancy?
- How to Check if Your Acne Treatment Products Are Safe During Pregnancy?
- Skincare Products to Consider For Acne Treatment During Pregnancy
- Top 4 Best Acne Treatment Product Brands in India
What is Pregnancy Acne?
Pregnancy acne is a skin eruption that occurs in expecting moms. It is caused by hormonal changes. Acne is a typical occurrence during pregnancy. In fact, more than half of all expecting mothers are likely to have acne. Acne can be rather severe in some circumstances. For such cases, you may need to consult your dermatologist for better treatment options.
Causes of Acne During Pregnancy
The increased hormone levels in the first trimester are the main cause of acne when you’re pregnant. The higher the level, the more natural oils your skin produces. If you have had acne in the past or if acne appears near the start of your menstrual cycle, you have a good probability. If you don’t acquire acne during your early pregnancy, or during the first trimester, it’s unlikely that you’ll get unusual outbreaks in the following trimesters.
How to Prevent Acne During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy acne is a common side effect of pregnancy that usually goes away after the baby is born. Good skin care is the best thing you can do to save your skin from breakouts.
Here are a few non-drug options for preventing pregnancy acne
- Change your bed linens on a regular basis
- Wash your face only twice a day after heavy perspiration
- When you do wash, use a gentle cleanser that is oil-free, alcohol-free, and non-abrasive
- Wash your face gently with a cotton pad or a washcloth (but change and use a cleaned fabric or pad every time)
- Rinse your skin with warm water after washing. After that, pat dries lightly and apply moisturizer
- Don’t over-cleanse. It has the potential to influence the skin’s oil secretor
- Keep your hands away from your face since your fingers may contain bacteria
Avoid the urge to pinch or pop your acne at all costs. This could leave you with acne scars for the rest of your life. Get a face clean-up if your ducts are clogged.
[Read : How To Choose Moisturizer During Pregnancy?]
How to Check if Your Acne Treatment Products Are Safe During Pregnancy?
Here is a detailed checklist for you to see if your acne treatment products are safe for you during pregnancy
1. Look Over the Ingredients
Look over the ingredients list on the product to see if there are any that you are concerned about. Because personal care products are not heavily regulated, the EWG created a database of over 87,000 personal care products and assigned each one a safety rating. Every product’s components are compared to over sixty toxicity and regulatory databases to determine its safety.
Look for cleansers and spot treatments that contain active ingredients like glycolic acid and azelaic acid, which are regarded to be safe during pregnancy. However, it is important to let your doctor know about your acne treatment products and their ingredients before usage.
2. Check the Safety of the Ingredients
Some skincare, ingredients are thought to harm your unborn and a few studies have linked them to birth defects. Avoid products that contain retinol and retinoids. Pregnant women are advised to avoid using both prescription and over-the-counter retinoids. (Oral vitamin A supplements, such as isotretinoin, should be avoided if you are planning for a baby or are already pregnant)
Ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are well-known acne fighters. Although there is no evidence to prove their harm to a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, they are still NOT ok to use without your doctor’s consent.
Acne treatments that can be taken throughout pregnancy are still available. Remember that everyone’s skin is different, so if you’ve seen a sudden change in your skin, your gynecologist and skin doctor should be your first port of call for a treatment plan, and you should always consult with them before trying a new product on yourself.
[Read : How To Choose Nipple Creams During Pregnancy]
Skincare Products to Consider For Acne Treatment During Pregnancy
To get started on your quest for dazzling radiance, try this simple skincare routine with an assortment of pregnancy-safe skincare products.
1. Face Wash/Cleanser
To begin, wash your face with a gentle face wash or a face cleanser. Use warm water, neither too cold nor too hot. After that, spray a toner.
2. Facial Moisturizer
Apply a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type.
3. Facial Cream
Eventually, apply a cream, and instead of using sunscreen at night, use a serum to complete your skincare routine.
Top 4 Best Acne Treatment Product Brands in India
If you are looking for the best cleanser brands for your pregnancy acne, here is a list that you must consider.
- Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash
- Aroma Magic Neem & Tea Tree Face Wash
- WOW Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Foaming Face Wash
- Mamaearth Tea Tree Natural Face Wash for Acne and Pimples Wash
Take care of your skin, and follow a healthy and clean skincare routine. Avoid exposing yourself to too much pollution and sun. Eat healthy foods and avoid junk as much as possible. Exercise regularly and try to get a good night’s sleep. You will be able to manage acne to a good extent if you follow this routine during pregnancy. However, it is common for the skin to break out because of the inevitable hormonal rush during pregnancy. Embrace yourself and have a happy pregnancy!
Read Also: How to Choose Stretch Marks Cream During Pregnancy?
