Acne During Pregnancy: First Trimester Forum

There are two major factors that makes acne more prevalent with pregnancy the hormone progesterone and alteration in hydration. Progesterone is a hormone, which forms the basis of implanting health for the fertilized ovum. The ovary does it, but after the 1st trimester it is generally the placenta that gets involved in it.

Besides causing implantation stable, it will relax the smooth muscles also that prevents premature labor, though i produces constipation. It looses-up the joints, especially the hip/pubic joint that makes more space for the infant to fit through on the way out during childbirth.

Though pregnancy is one of the most joyful times and pleasant experiences for women, it still has its own share of problems. During pregnancy, there is a hormonal gush in the body, which can either lead to acne or aggravate the skin problem, if you are already suffering from it.

Though there are many products available in the market to cure the disease, most of them are forbidden for pregnant women, as they might pose a risk to the child. However, with a little precaution and care, you can treat acne naturally and effectively. To know how to treat acne during pregnancy, read on.

Causes of Acne During Pregnancy:

Home changes in the progesterone leves are thought to be the contributing factor to pregnancy acne.  Progesterone boosts the secretion of the skin, which creates the glands that produces the oil to activate. This activation then triggers an easy spot for bacteria to breed and show up in the skin through acne. Good news for the mommies because there are acne treatment during pregnancy available, safe and easy to find or use.

Pregnancy induced acne is almost always caused by hormonal fluctuations, and the acne usually disappears once the baby is born and everything has time to return to normal. If it seems like the acne is getting out of hand then speak with your health care provider about this. Following are some of the symptoms of acne in early pregnancy:

  • Inflamed and painful bumps and pustules
  • Red spots
  • Whiteheads
  • Blackheads
  • Oily skin

Solutions of Acne:

Naturally a woman in her pregnancy has to deal with pregnancy acne cautiously. But still, you cannot neglect this problem because it is just as important to maintain healthy skin condition. Make sure to cleanse your face twice daily once in the morning and before bedtime. You need to be meticulous when choosing the type of facial cleanser you use to ensure that it is gentle enough for your sensitive skin. Your best bet is to go for fragrance free facial products since they are made up of mild ingredients.

Over the Counter Treatments:

All drug treatments for adult acne can have adverse side effects so it is very important to research any acne medication before using it. It must be remembered that even creams and gels can be absorbed into the skin. It is especially important that treatment for acne during pregnancy should be monitored by a physician because some treatments can cause birth defects or problems during pregnancy. Acne during pregnancy is not uncommon. It can be triggered by hormonal changes and will probably disappear once the baby is born and the mother’s body gets back to normal.

Benzoyl peroxide has been considered as a safe pregnancy acne treatment, but you should check with your doctor first. Avoid any treatment that contains salicylic acid, such as Stridex or Propa pH. However, even with topical treatments (treatments that are applied directly to the affected area), you are strongly advised to see your doctor. Topical treatments can enter your bloodstream and affect your fetus.

Home Treatments for Acne During Pregnancy:

There really is room for a lot less concern when treating pregnancy acne with home based ingredients. Lavender oil, for instance, can be safely used applied on the acne-infested skin area. It is a powerful anti oxidant and can cure all types of skin ailments. In addition, it is also mild on the skin and don’t cause any side effects. Belladona is taken as a supplement instead of topical. In the event that your acne has pus formation, use belladonna.

Medical Treatments:

The most common medicine for cystic acne is Isotretinoin or Accutane. It is basically a supradoze of Vitamin A. The side effects to some pregnancy acne treatments can be severe and even dangerous and must be administered under a Doctor’s guidance. The treatment lasts several weeks, sometimes up to six months to see any effect.

This treatment should not be taken by pregnant women, mothers to be or breast feeding mothers as it is known to cause birth defects and abortion. Actually, many women experience cystic acne after pregnancy and they can try using birth control pills.

Eating a Healthy Diet:

Eating a healthy diet is very important while being pregnant, but it also plays an important role in keeping your acne under control. Eating foods that are rich in fiber, staying away from sugar, and fried foods will also help you control acne breakouts.

Drinking Water:

Drinking water is vital during your pregnancy because it will help flush out those toxins and bacteria in the body, as well as help flush those things to your intestines so that your body can remove them. Be sure to drink eight to ten, eight ounce glasses a day for healthier skin.

Some Tips to Reduce Acne During Pregnancy:

  • Pregnant woman should clean the skin to keep it oil free during pregnancy.
  • She can also use oil absorbing micro fiber cloth while cleaning her face to effectively clean the dust and oil off her face.
  • She should keep her hands away from the acne and rub gently when washing to keep its potential to spread the bacteria to other parts of her body.
  • Pregnant woman with pimples should regularly perform exercises since they improve the blood circulation flow and thus helps the skin to tone-up and become healthy.
  • The woman can also control acne during pregnancy by frequently washing acne with distilled water and herbal soap containing Basil Leaves.
  • If the woman suffers from acne during pregnancy, she should never rub near acne or onto acne as it smears the bacteria and she experiences more zits.
  • Before consuming fruits and vegetables, they are to be washed removing herbicides, pesticides and other materials that affect the growing infant and skin.
  • She should keep the skin dry and use an oil-free moisturizer 5 min after washing the skin.

Advice:

Pregnant women should never take the drug accutane or use a retinoid topical ointment, such as Retin A. Accutane is associated with severe birth defects and retinoids are derived from Vitamin A, another substance which, in excessive amounts, is associated with birth defects.