During pregnancy a woman’s body goes through many changes including changes to her skin these changes are usually not harmful and will go away after the baby is born changes in hormone levels can have a significant impact on the skin by affecting oil production, collagen production and inflammation.
Here are some suggestions for skincare during pregnancy:
- Using skin care that is high in synthetic fragrance usually does cause more irritation and sensitivity to the skin when you are pregnant so it’s best to avoid them.
- In any skin care routine, I believe using a serum at night is very important. This is because a serum has smaller molecules than a moisturiser, so it can travel deeper into the skin. Therefore we are treating the skin condition at a deeper level. If your skin is dehydrated, use a hydrating serum for either dehydration or anti-aging as they should be high in antioxidants therefore be the most rewarding products for hydration. In skin’s suffering from acne or prenatal acne or even if you would just like to prevent this condition, I recommend using an anti-bacterial serum to help treat this problem at a deeper level. If you use a product that is thicker, it may be beneficial to help rid of the bacteria once the impurity is on the surface on the skin, but it won’t help stop it from forming in the first place.
- Using sunscreen every day is also a must. Even during winter, your skin still can be affected by the UV rays. When you are pregnant you are more likely to develop pigmentation. It may not be to the extreme of melasma, but general pigmentation can become more prominent. This is why you should be very careful with the sun exposure and by using sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses, will be beneficial for your skin. You should apply either over the top of your regular moisturiser, or if it is a 2-in-1 moisturiser and sunscreen, you can use instead of a regular moisturiser.
- It is also good to exfoliate your skin 1 to 2 times a week and I also recommend giving yourself a mini facial once a week. A mini facial would include a cleanse, exfoliation, mask, tone serum and moisturise. You should also include a lifting massage when applying your serum and or moisturiser.
- For your body, I prefer using an oil instead of a moisturiser every evening for the same reason as why I believe it is important to use a serum. The body oils that I usually recommend are Bio-Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil and Coconut Oil.
There are also skin care ingredients that you should avoid during pregnancy as they may potentially harm your baby:
- Retinoids: this is a class of vitamin A derivatives which includes retinol and they can increase the risk of birth defects. So it should be avoided or through your pregnancy.
- Salicylic acid: is still being studied in relation to the risk of using during pregnancy, however it’s recommended to avoid high concentrations or in its oral form completely, especially during the first trimester.
- Hydroquinone: is a skin lightening agent and is absorbed into the bloodstream and has been linked to adverse effects on the baby.
- Chemical sunscreens: they can contain oxybenzone which has been linked to hormonal distractions and should be avoided during pregnancy. It’s generally considered safe to use sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide though.
- Essential oils: even though many essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy there are some such as clary sage, rosemary, thyme, just to name a few, which are not. This is because they can cause contractions, bleeding or other complications that could harm the mother and the baby. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can enter the bloodstream through the skin or lungs so it’s important to use them with caution during pregnancy. Additionally some essential oils may have hormonal effects that could be harmful during pregnancy.
It’s important to keep in mind that individual sensitivity may vary so this is why it’s always good to consult with the healthcare provider before using any new skin care products during pregnancy.
