Pregnancy is a time of joy and excitement, but it can also be overwhelming. Thinking about everything you can and cannot eat plus the activities to avoid. Add in skincare to watch out for and you may be wondering how to keep track of everything. Don’t stress. The Victorian Dermal Group are here to help. We’ve compiled the ultimate pregnancy skincare guide to get you through the next nine months.
What happens to the skin during pregnancy?
Pregnancy is an incredible feat of the female body. You’re growing another human inside of you- amazing stuff! So, of course, you can expect many changes in your body and your skin is no different. Skin changes during pregnancy are varied. Everyone experiences different symptoms. Some expectant mothers may find themselves with a glowing complexion while others don’t. Some of the most common skin conditions to experience during pregnancy are:
- dryness
- acne
- pigmentation or melasma
- redness or facial veins
Pregnancy may affect other pre-existing skincare issues such as rosacea or dermatitis. It could worsen or improve such conditions. Though, unfortunately, you won’t know until you’re pregnant. But don’t worry, there are plenty of pregnancy safe skincare products that treat these conditions if need be. Let’s take a closer look:
Dull, dry and dehydrated skin
If you’re suffering from dry or dull skin during your pregnancy, you’re not alone. Many women lose hydration in their skin during this time. Luckily, it’s quite an easy one to treat. A nourishing moisturiser or serum can make all the difference. Here are a couple of pregnancy safe options:
- Dull skin: The Energy C Intensive Cream contains antioxidant properties that brighten and even out skin tone.
- Dehydrated Skin: Try the Energy C HA Densitmatrix a hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid (the holy grail of hydration). It also promotes collagen and elastin which work to tighten the skin.
Acne
You thought you’d left this in your teenage years, didn’t you? Alas, those pesky spots can follow you throughout your life. Unfortunately, as women, we can experience worsening acne due to hormones, and pregnancy is hormone central! Common ingredients used to treat acne such as retinoids (Vitamin A) and salicylic acid are not pregnancy safe. Here are some alternative pregnancy safe ingredients that treat acne:
- lactic acid
- azelaic acid
- glycolic acid
- fruit enzymes
- bentonite clay and activated charcoal
We recommend the Dermal Hub S.O.S Day & Night Pack for our pregnant patients experiencing acne. The daytime cream helps support your skin's natural barrier. While the night-time cream soothes, restores and balances oil production.
Pigmentation (melasma)
Facial pigmentation (also known as melasma or chloasma) is often referred to as “the mark of pregnancy”. You may find your skin develops darkened patches or blotches. It’s caused by an overproduction of the skin cells that produce colour. The heightened hormones brought on by pregnancy can cause this overproduction. There are plenty of pregnancy safe skincare products on the market to treat this condition such as:
- Mesoestetic Brightening Peel Booster
- Mesoestetic Melan 130 Pigment Control
- Dermaceutic Radiance Expert Brightening Cream
Redness and facial veins
During pregnancy, many senses are heightened such as smell and taste. Your skin isn’t any different. You may find it’s extra sensitive, resulting in redness, inflammation or the appearance of facial veins. Here are a few products that may help to reduce such symptoms:
- Mesoestetic Anti Stress Mask: This is a lovely soothing mask containing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decongesting properties. Grab your favourite book, put your feet up and relax with this mask on.
- Mesoestetic Post-Procedure Fast Skin Repair: This is an intensive repair cream that helps to soothe damaged skin. Designed as a post-treatment cream it’s especially gentle on the skin (making it excellent for pregnancy).
- Mesoestetic Couperand Maintenance Cream: This is a lovely soft cream designed for extremely sensitive, inflamed skin. If you suffer from rosacea (which may be worsened with pregnancy) this can be great for you.
A skincare routine safe for two
Pregnancy makes you conscious of everything you put in or on your body. This usually includes skincare products. Your body absorbs the ingredients or chemicals in skincare and those can affect the health of your little one. We’ve created a list of the main skincare ingredients to AVOID during pregnancy:
- vitamin A (retinoids and tretinoin)
- salicylic acid
- hydroquinone
- phthalates
- formaldehyde-releasing chemicals such as (bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, hydroxymethyl glycinate, imidazolidinyl urea
- chemical sunscreens (oxybenzone)
It’s best to check with your healthcare professional for a complete list of safe ingredients for skincare during pregnancy.
