What Skincare Products Can You Use During Pregnancy?

Many changes occur in a pregnant woman’s skin during pregnancy. From stretch marks to acne and skin irritation, your skin will go through as many changes as the rest of your body and the baby growing inside you. Here are some tips that will help you to care for your skin during this period safely.

What Changes Might Occur In Your Skin When Pregnant?

When you are pregnant, you should expect specific changes in your skin. These changes are down to hormones and blood flow. We will consider some of the most common changes experienced by pregnant women in this section.

Pigmentation Changes

One of the changes that you might experience is a change in your pigmentation. To that end, the skin around parts of your body, like your nipples, genitals, and neck, might get darker. This is usually because of hormones.

You might also see that there is a dark line from your abdomen to your pubic bone.

The face is not left out because you will likely observe some dark patches on your face. Exposure to the sun can worsen pigmentation. However, some months after childbirth, the skin returns to its normal condition.

However, in some instances, there might still be some dark patches.

Acne

Acne is another issue that you will have to deal with. Many women have problems with acne during pregnancy.

The increase in progesterone levels causes an increase in sebum production by the skin. With an increase in sebum comes more frequent breakouts on the skin.

To fight acne, you have to choose the right skin care product- one that will work correctly while being safe for you and your baby.

Sensitive Skin

Your emotions aren’t the only things that might get sensitive when you are pregnant. In fact, pregnancy can increase skin sensitivity. You might find yourself sensitive to ordinary products and other things that normally would not cause any reaction in your skin.

Moles

If you have moles on your skin prior to pregnancy, these moles might get even bigger. And if you didn’t have moles before, then new ones might pop out.

Aside from that, you might also get what some refer to as ‘pregnancy tumors.’For the most part, these do not cause any harm to you in the long run. However, if you are concerned, you could seek the advice of your dermatologist.

Varicose Veins

Pregnancy might bring with t enlarged veins in parts of the body, particularly the leg. This is because the uterus is exerting more pressure on the veins.

This might also be the result of hormonal changes. These veins usually disappear some months after childbirth.

Stretch Marks

This is the most common skin issue that comes up during pregnancy. And it is not surprising – after all, your body gains more fat, and it expands. These marks occur because your skin stretches. You will usually experience them later in your pregnancy period. They often appear on the buttocks, stomach, thighs, and breasts.

All of these are the skin changes that occur during pregnancy. While you want to take care of your skin and get rid of these, you need to be careful not to use harmful products to you and your baby. In the next section, we will consider some of the things that you should look out for when choosing skincare products while pregnant.

How Can You Treat Acne Breakouts During Pregnancy?

As we have seen above, pregnancy might bring acne to your face. You might be tempted to use the nearest anti-acne product that you find on the shelf, but there are things to keep in mind.

During pregnancy, you must steer clear of Vitamin A derivatives and retinoid. You should also avoid products that contain salicylic acid. While it might help with your acne, it is unsafe for your baby.

Instead of using products that contain the ingredients we have listed, look for products that contain lactic or glycolic acid. These will work well and are safe for your unborn child.

Should You Use Organic Products During Pregnancy?

Since you want to care for yourself and your baby, you might consider switching to using organic products. However, if you are using your regular product (which is safe for you and the child), then there is no need to switch to organic products.

However, if you decide to use organic products, you certainly need to ensure that its ingredients are safe to use.

As usual, stay away from organic products that contain Vitamin A, salicylic acid, or retinol. These are dangerous and are liable to cause congenital disabilities.

Can You Use Mineral Makeup?

Many pregnant women wonder if they can still use mineral makeup during pregnancy. Well, the research shows that it is a good choice. Mineral makeup is good because there are no ingredients in it that can irritate your skin. They are often free of fragrances and additives that can irritate the skin.

Furthermore, mineral makeup contains zinc and titanium, which will act as sunscreen to protect your skin.

What Kind of Moisturizer Can A Pregnant Woman Use?

While pregnant, you want to keep your skin moisturized and looking healthy. To that end, you might opt to use a moisturizer.

When choosing a moisturizer, consider using products that have ingredients like glycerine or shea butter.

What Ingredients Should A Pregnant Woman Avoid?

If you have been paying attention, you should already know some of the ingredients we recommend to avoid. But let’s have a better consideration of some of them.

Retinoids

These are powerful substances found in several skincare products. They are used in treating pigmentation, acne, and similar skin issues. They are basically a form of Vitamin A that increases the division of skin cells, thus aiding your skin in recovery and stops the breakdown of collagen.

They are found in creams and several anti-aging moisturizers.

Studies have shown that these are dangerous to unborn children. Using them can cause congenital disabilities. If you have been using a cream with this substance, do not fret. Just stop using them.

Hair Removers And Minimizers

Another product that you should avoid is the creams that minimize or removes your hair. While these are convenient to use when you are pregnant, they contain harmful substances. If you had reacted to them even before you got pregnant, then you must avoid them even more vigorously during this delicate period.

What Are Safe Skincare Products to Use for Pregnant Women?

We have discussed the products and ingredients that you should avoid. But what about products that you can use? Let’s see some of the best skin care products that are still safe to use during pregnancy.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen might penetrate the skin, which is one reason why some avoid using it during pregnancy. However, if you are exposed to sunlight while pregnant, using sunscreen will not negatively affect you or your baby.

If you are worried, you could stick with sunscreen products that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Aside from using the right sunscreen, you might also avoid the sun during hours of intense sunshine. As a precaution, don’t use sunscreen that has hydroquinone. While there isn’t enough evidence to show that it is dangerous, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Makeup

You can still use makeup while pregnant. But it would help if you were careful.

When choosing makeup, choose options that are noncomedogenic. These are products that don’t contain oil and will not clog your pores. They are generally safe to use.

You could also choose products that are marked as ‘minerals only.’

Steroid Creams

Topical steroid creams are safe to use during pregnancy, and they offer unique benefits. These help you deal with skin irritation, rashes, inflammation, eczema, and a host of other skin issues.

Vitamin C

Topical antioxidants like Vitamin C can be highly beneficial to your skin. It works to boost your immune system and remove free radicals from the body. It also protects your skin by making it stronger and maintaining collagen levels.

You can also choose products that contain vitamins E, K, and B3.

Water

Water is essential to good health, and it is also important if you want to maintain good skin during pregnancy. Drinking a good amount of water will prevent dry skin due to hormone changes during pregnancy.

And if you have stretch marks, moisturizing and drinking water can help to manage them.

Are There Any Good Pregnancy Skincare Routines?

Yes. Here is a good skincare routine for pregnant women:

• Use lukewarm water to wash your face with your cleanser

• Afterward, apply a toner to the washed skin

• If you are going out, use a mineral-based sunscreen

• Apply a safe moisturizer on your skin

• Then, apply an eye cream if it’s part of your regular pre-pregnancy routine

• If you are going to sleep, replace the sunscreen with a serum

Conclusion

Pregnancy is an exciting time. However, it is not easy to change your skincare routine and start using new products. But you need to use the right, safe products for the sake of your child. We believe that this post on safe skincare products for pregnant women will help you a lot.