Your Complexion and Pregnancy

You were looking forward to that pregnancy glow and instead you’ve got…pregnancy acne? If you’re experiencing a sudden outbreak or acne or a worsening of your already existing adult acne, then you are not alone. While many women experience clearer skin then they’ve ever had during pregnancy, other women experience quite the opposite. Some women get mild outbreaks of acne once or twice during their pregnancy and other women experience severe acne eruptions throughout the entire nine months.

What causes pregnancy acne and how can you deal with it?

First, hormones rage in the pregnant woman, making her susceptible to a wide range of hormone-related conditions, acne included. Androgens (a type of hormone) increase and along with them come increased levels of sebum, blocked pores, a backup of bacteria, and, the end result, acne.

If you’re acne-prone, you’re acne-prone, There’s not much you can do to prevent it, but there’s lots you can do to cut back on the severity and to reduce inflammation, redness, and occurrence. First, keep your skin clean. Use a mild soap or a soapless cleanser twice a day and don’t use anything (like a rough washcloth) against your skin. Use an oil-free moisturizer and try your hardest not to pop or even touch affected areas.

Prescription acne medications can be a problem during pregnancy, especially Accutane and Retin-A, tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline. Some topical creams and antibiotics may be okay, like erythromycin, but check with your doctor to be sure.

That pregnancy glow doesn’t need to be a thing only in fairy tales. If you take good care of your skin, you can keep blemishes and acne to a minimum. And with that beautiful bulging belly and your proud grin on your face, no one will notice a pimple or two anyways!