Pregnancy brings with it many changes, emotionally, physically, and mentally. From a mental and emotional standpoint, you’re preparing to adopt a new role of parent, with all its accompanying responsibilities. Physically, of course, you’re dealing with changes in the shape, function, and movement of your body. While we have a society-wide belief that pregnant women are always glowing, that, unfortunately, is not always the case.

Being well informed about the essential elements related to skin care helps in adopting a safe and effective skin care regime that is suitable for your skin especially during pregnancy. Include this as an integral part of overall health care to optimize your wellbeing. Keep yourself comfortable, good looking and healthy during pregnancy with suitable pregnancy skin care tips.

Melasma or Mask of Pregnancy

Towards the end of the second trimester or the beginning of the third trimester, you may notice a discoloration of the skin. The most common areas are the cheek, forehead, nose and the upper lip. Statistical data point out that the overproduction of melanocyte-stimulating hormone affects close to 70% of all pregnant women. Increased hormones cause skin pigmentation. Consequently pregnant women develop dark, irregular patches, which fade away soon after the baby is born. You can guard yourself from melasma by reducing exposure to sunlight and by using sunscreens.

Acne

It is common for pregnant women to develop acne during the first three months of pregnancy. Due to the fluctuation of hormones, the skin can dry out more than normal and result in acne. A quick and easy remedy to keep acne at bay is by drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fruits and vegetables. You can consult your health care provider and use skin creams that contain erythromycin and other antibiotics that will not affect the growing fetus.

Pimply Eruptions

Otherwise referred to as pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPP), pimply eruptions are common during the second half of pregnancy. Signs of red, raised patches on the abdomen, thighs and buttocks (or all over the body) appear and can be very irritating to the pregnant woman. Mild or severe in nature, these eruptions vanish quickly after delivery. Calamine lotion can provide relief from the irritation.

Linea Nigra

Around the second trimester, a faint line running from the navel to the center of the pubic bone may turn darker and become a linea nigra. The nipples too may turn darker as a result of the hormonal changes during pregnancy. Hardly preventable, linea nigra fades away after few months of delivery.

Dry Itchy Abdomen

With the belly growing, your skin stretches and tightens. Quite difficult to eliminate, you can use suitable moisturizing cream or olive oil, which can provide substantial relief. You can also avoid hot showers and baths, eliminate using drying soaps or products that contain alcohol which will make the skin dry fast.

Skin Tags

Tiny polyps called skin tags can appear in areas where the skin rubs on clothing or just with the skin. Skin tags are commonly found under the arms or breasts, between neck folds or on the chest. With hardly any treatment options, these tags may require a health care provider to remove them in case they do not disappear few months post delivery. Skin tags are understood to be a result of hormonal changes.

Spider Veins

Red or purple sunbursts in the shape of a spider web may appear on the face, neck, upper chest, legs or arms. Referred to as spider veins or telangiectasia or broken capillaries, these are tiny blood vessels that form due to increased blood circulation, most common during pregnancy. The other reason being hormonal changes, these spider veins disappear soon after delivery. You can increase your Vitamin C intake and consciously avoid crossing your legs to help minimize spider veins.

Varicose Veins

Pregnant women may develop enlarged veins in the legs. You can avoid or reduce the risk of varicose veins by involving in gentle exercises, avoiding crossing of legs, increasing intake of vitamin C or using suitable tights or stockings before getting out of bed in the morning. Varicose veins become normal or disappear after delivery.

Red Or Itchy Palms

Otherwise termed as palmar erythema, the increased estrogen level in pregnant women may cause the palms to turn red and itchy. Beginning, second month of pregnancy, you may notice the inside of hands and sometimes even the soles of feet itching and turning reddish. These changes fade away post delivery.

Skin Care Tips After Pregnancy

Caring Carrot Mask

Take a carrot, grate and mix it well with one spoon of honey. Apply this all over the face and leave it for only 15 minutes. Now wash and feel the difference after regular use.

Punch of A Pineapple

After mashing up well a pineapple slice, mix it with the juice of an orange or a lemon and add all these ingredients with wheat flour. Apply this mixture on the face and neck. Scrub it off after some time, to get fresh and smooth skin.

Lemon-Egg Protector

Whip an egg white till it gets peak up and store it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Now add the juice of a lemon and a grated tomato with this. Apply on the skin; practice the same for minimum of a month to get the soft skin.

Guava Grace

Mash one guava; stir it well with the mixture of oatmeal and lemon juice. Apply this now on the face for about 20 minutes and wash it off to see the better glow.

Spinach Support

Take a cup of raw pureed spinach, and one spoon of fresh cream, mix well all these and apply on the face. Leave it for about half an hour and wash it off to see the charming skin to support your great looks.

Ravishing Radish Touch

Take half grated fresh radish, one spoon of vinegar, one spoon of lemon juice and one spoon of honey. Mix all these ingredients in a glass of distilled water and store in a bottle. Wipe your skin regularly to shrink open pores and reduce greasiness.

Healthy Honey Treat

Mix one spoon of honey with the white of an egg and grated potato. Apply this on the face and let it dry. Wash it off with cold water and feel the magic of freshness.

Marvel Milk Treatment

Mix together 50 grams dried pea powder, lemon juice, one pinch of camphor and a little milk. Apply it over the face and leave it for 15 minutes and scrub it off with milk. This is good for treating scars.

Strawberry Silky Soft

Mix well about 5 strawberries, one spoon of china clay and the juice of a small orange. Apply this on the face and scrub it after about 20minutes with a towel dipped in cold water.

Tomato and Sandal pack

Mix well one grated tomato, one spoon of sandalwood powder and half spoon of china clay. Mix again all these ingredients in rose water and apply on the face, leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it off to feel tightened skin.