Now that you have a new life inside of you, who says that you cannot continue feeling beautiful with your growing tummy? I know you’re very careful about almost everything that you do now that you are pregnant and that does not include your skin care regimen.
I know that you are curious about the safest ways to use skin products while being pregnant. Don’t worry, I got you, mommy! You will be guided through an intensive pregnancy skin care guide below - so can always feel fresh and pretty all throughout the magic of pregnancy.
Aside from the skin care guide, I will be helping you through with what changes on your skin should you expect throughout your pregnancy. Let’s get started!
What are the skin changes during pregnancy?
The moment you get pregnant, you have to expect that your luminous skin pre-pregnancy might change in a positive or negative way. Any change in your skin might be due to the fluctuation of hormones that is normal for any pregnant lady.
Here are some of the most common skin changes that you have to expect all throughout your pregnancy:
Stretch Marks
As soon as you get pregnant, stretch marks are indeed inevitable! Stretch marks are caused by the excessive stretching that your skin experiences as your baby grows inside of you. You might see stretch marks on your stomach, breasts, groins, and thighs.
These tiger stripes will remain as permanent scars even after your delivery. Stretch marks will always be a part of your pregnancy journey, so be confident that your body has all the strength to nurture and deliver your baby safely.
It is also important to drink plenty of water to ensure that your body is getting all the hydration that it needs. You can also use moisturizing products that contain cocoa butter, coconut oil, hyaluronic acid, and peptides.
One technique to effectively prevent stretch marks is to moisturize prone areas like your tummy, groin, waist, and bust.
Changes in Blood Vessel
For sure you have probably heard of the term “pregnancy glow” even before you got pregnant. This condition happens because of the changes in your blood vessels. Because of the increased blood volume in your body, your cheeks might look naturally blushed!
On the other hand, you might experience some redness on your palms and varicose veins on your legs. When you have reached the end of your second trimester, expect that there is also an increase of redness and varicose veins on your intimate parts.
Pregnancy Acne
When I was pregnant, I have been having issues with excessive sweetness and hot body temperature. Because of the extra oil excreted by your body, your sweat glands might become more active. Hence, acne might be an issue especially in your third trimester.
Safe Skin Care Tips for Pregnancy
Let’s now talk about the safest skincare products that you can use while you’re expecting:
Mild Soap
The best way to clean your entire body is to use a mild soap with additional moisturizer to ensure that your skin will always feel soft and supple. Also, refrain from using bubble bath bombs and excessive scrubbing.
When taking baths, limit your bathing sessions for only once a day. Too much bathing can lead to dry skin and you might feel itchy because of your skin dryness.
Moisturizer
After a nice and fresh bath, you can use a moisturizer with added sun block. The SPF that the sun block contains must be within 15 to 20 to protect your sensitive skin. Your tummy also needs extra care to prevent excessive appearance of stretch marks.
Sun Protection
Just like we have mentioned regarding using moisturizers for pregnancy, the need for sun protection is also vital. This tip is not just applicable to expectant mothers, but using sun protection can also prevent wrinkles and skin cancer in the long run.
But how exactly can you be sure that the sun protection product that you are using is indeed safe for you and your baby? According to experts, it is highly recommended to choose a mineral-based sunscreen. This type of sunscreen forces the UV rays to bounce off of your skin without harming your skin.
Acne and Hyperpigmentation
If ever you experience bad acne, you can treat them with antibiotic lotions like erythromycin or clindamycin. Make sure not to use retinol-based creams and topical ointments during pregnancy. The reason behind this is that retinol is known to cause malformations to your little one.
The best thing that you can do is to wash your face with a mild cleanser and rinse it off with warm water. Prevent from using facial scrubs, masks, and astringents which might worsen the acne condition on your face. Since your face is very sensitive at this point, excessive washing and scrubbing might irritate your skin.
You can also rely on glycolic acid but only in small amounts. This ingredient is very effective in battling with acne but you can also benefit from it when it comes to brightening, fine lines, and skin pigmentation.
If ever you are very concerned about your pregnancy acne, you can visit your dermatologist to have the safest ways to treat your pregnancy acne.
Wrinkles and Anti-Aging
Antioxidants are the best way to remove your wrinkles even while you’re pregnant. These antioxidants are also very helpful in boosting your immune system. The most recommended antioxidant that you can take is Vitamin C, which is perfect for treating skin damage and it also helps maintain your collagen.
Here are other safe antioxidants that you can try using while you’re currently pregnant:
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B3
- Green tea
Skin care ingredients to avoid when pregnant
The list of ingredients below are retrieved from scientific studies that concludes that these ingredients can bring harm to your little one. On the other hand, I would like to point out that there is not a lot of evidence-based data on the safety of the usual ingredients contained in a skin care product and its relation to pregnancy.
But, here’s a list of the known and tested ingredients that a pregnant mommy has to avoid:
- Retinoids
- High-dose salicylic acid
- Hydroquinone
- Phthalates
- Formaldehyde
- Chemical sunscreens
- Parabens
- Benzoyl Peroxide And Salicylic Acid
- Aluminum Chloride
- Tetracycline
How can I check if my skin care products are safe?
The most important and accurate way to check if your skin care products are suitable and safe for you, you have to discuss it with your doctor or dermatologist. This is highly important especially if you are currently under certain medications or if you have some skin conditions.
You can also check the list of ingredients that we have listed above to ensure that the product you are using is safe for your little one. Another option is to check the ingredient safety on the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which is a credible source if you want to learn more about skin care.
EWG has a database wherein you can check over 87,000 of skin care products with a corresponding safety rating. EWG has an online database, or you can also download their application on Google Play or App Store.
Pregnancy Safe Skin Care Routine
Now that you have information regarding the skin care products that you should choose and which ingredients to avoid, we now go to the safe skin care routine that you can do everyday for the next months with your baby inside of you!
Step 1: Wash your face with a mild cleanser and use lukewarm water.
For products to choose, you can try using an all skin type cleanser, anti-blemish cleanser, or an anti-aging cleanser.
Step 2: Add some toner
Depending on your skin type, you can try choosing toners that are hydrating and balancing, or you can also use toners with added antioxidants.
Step 3: Apply some mineral-based sunscreen
Make sure to use a mineral-based sunscreen since this is the safest product to use for pregnant women. Choose a sunscreen that has around SPF 15 to 30 to protect your pretty face against sun damage.
Step 4: Choose a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type
When choosing a moisturizer, you always have to consider the type of skin you have. You can use a hydrating moisturizer, or your favorite day and night cream. If you have a firming cream that does not have any harmful ingredients, you can also continue using it if it works best for your skin.
Step 5: Apply eye cream
Puffy eyes have always been my problem since I usually don’t have enough sleep when I was pregnant. If you have the same issue as me, you can use a firming and eye brightening cream to make your eyes brighter and fuller.
Step 6: Apply moisturizer to prevent stretch marks
The most common moisturizers that you can use for your stretch marks are: skin and scar balm, stretch mark cream, stretch mark oil, or tummy butter.
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