Changes in Your Skin During Pregnancy

Even if you've never really thought much about the condition of your skin, becoming pregnant may change all that. Your face may take on an entirely different glow. Tiny veins may start appearing on your cheeks and chest, and for some reason you feel as if you're revisiting your adolescence when pimples start appearing out of nowhere.

Don’t feel you're imagining all this. Skin changes during pregnancy are common and although most of them can be grouped into the category of normal, it's still useful to have some understanding of what causes them and what you can to limit them.

The cause of skin changes during pregnancy

The general culprit is hormones, in particular increases in estrogen and progesterone. During pregnancy, these are the primary hormones which cause the widespread changes which are necessary to support a baby towards maturity. Their levels and secretion cannot be controlled or influenced in any particular way by a pregnant woman.

The mask of pregnancy

You might notice a rash on your face during pregnancy, often called the mask of pregnancy. Another name for this is a butterfly mask because it commonly looks like butterfly wings have spread across the cheeks. It can also extend up to the forehead, the nose and chin. The correct name for the mask of pregnancy is chloasma, and the cause is an increase in the melanin production in the dermal layers of the skin. Melanin is responsible for the color of our skin and women with darker or olive skin tend to be more affected by chloasma. Many women also find their moles become darker during pregnancy as well, due to the overall increase in melanin production. It's important to monitor any changes in the color, shape, and general appearance of moles. To be on the safe side, it's worthwhile monitoring any mole changes and to check with your primary care provider and your maternity care provider. For most women, chloasma fades within 3 to 6 months after the birth of the baby. In some women it takes longer. There is no specific treatment for mask of pregnancy because, like most skin changes during pregnancy, once the baby is born and a mother's hormone levels return to normal, it tends to fade. But it is important to avoid sun exposure because this may make it worse. Wear a broad-brimmed hat, rub in a broad-spectrum sun block and avoid being out in the sun between 10am and 3pm. Don’t forget that the winter sun can be just as detrimental as summer rays.

Other skin changes during pregnancy

It's hard to say, but in many women there is an increase in the color of their labia and cervix caused by hormones. Freckles and moles may also appear darker. If you notice any change in the shape or a freckle or mole, then it's important to have this checked by your primary care provider and maternity care provider just to be on the safe side. You may also notice your nipples becoming darker and a line spreading from your belly button down towards your pubic region. This line is known as linea nigra. This generally appears within the second trimester, from around month 4 or 5.

That pregnancy glow

Most women have heard of "pregnancy glow” but are at a loss to explain what it actually means. During pregnancy, there is an increase in circulating blood volume to almost 50% more than normal. All this blood causes the face to appear redder and generally ruddier. These factors, when combined with the increase in oil production, add to a slightly shiny appearance to the face, hence the term pregnancy glow. You may feel you are far from glowing when you are pregnant, particularly in the middle of summer. But it is one of those terms which people generally feel is a positive and nice thing to say. Try to take it as a compliment! There is no specific treatment for pregnancy glow. You and your baby actually need that increase in overall blood volume to keep your little one oxygenated and well looked after. You could try using an oil free cleanser if you feel your skin has become too oily. You might need to change your moisturizer as well. You may need to change your usual routine and products, even if you've been loyal to the same brand for years. Your skin has changed.

Stretch marks during pregnancy

Stretch marks are caused by the underlying skin tissues tearing as they stretch and grow. Pink, red, or purple stripes commonly appear over the breasts, hips, buttocks, abdomen and anywhere the collagen and elastin fibers of the skin have been damaged. Although many creams and lotions promise results, the truth is that for the majority of women stretch marks fade in their own good time. There have been some significant advances in the technology and development of lasers for the treatment of stretch marks. However, these can be costly. Check with your primary care provider and maternity care provider to see if you qualify for referral to a dermatologist who specializes in stretch mark removal.

Extra hair growth on the face and body during pregnancy

It's not uncommon for women who are pregnant to notice extra hair appearing at different places on their body. That hair can appear around the nipples, the pubic area, the armpits, and the legs. Try not to be alarmed; it's just another one of those things which you can put down to hormonal influence and skin changes during pregnancy. You'll find that once your baby is born that your body hair returns to its normal appearance. If you need to, consider extra waxing, threading, shaving or general depilatory treatments if you feel self-conscious.

Skin tags during pregnancy

Until your pregnancy, you may have only associated skin tags with the elderly. The thought of carrying around some extra bits of skin may seem somehow quite revolting, but it does happen during pregnancy. Skin tags are very small little nodules of skin which are attached to surrounding skin. They are around the size of a grain of rice and are pink or sometimes brown. They are harmless and not painful. They can rub and be irritating, especially if they are under a bra strap or in an area of friction. They generally crop up in the region of the armpits and underneath the breasts. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to have your skin tags removed. In most women, they disappear all by themselves without any specific treatment. You will need to wait until after your baby is born. If not, then speak with your primary care provider and maternity care provider about getting them tied or surgically burnt off. Avoid using any chemical or plant-based products for wart or skin tag removal as many are contraindicated during pregnancy. If a particular skin tag is really troubling you, speak with your maternity care provider about getting it tied off. This is a simple procedure whereby a piece of cotton is tied tightly at the base of the skin tag so the circulation feeding it is cut off. After a few days, the skin tag shrinks and eventually drops off. Other options are to have them frozen off or using a chemical-based compound. You should only do this after the baby is born and when recommended and supervised by a provider.

Pimples and acne during pregnancy

Although extra sebum production is responsible for that lovely glow that pregnant women can have, it's also the culprit for outbreaks of pimples.. Skin changes during pregnancy such as acne and pimples aren’t always welcome. If you feel you're revisiting your adolescence, you're not the first pregnant woman to experience this. You can put all the blame for your pimples down to pregnancy hormones. An increase in estrogen and progesterone causes sebum production to go into overdrive, which means that blocked pores become more common. Even the most scrupulous hygiene practices are unlikely to help, and you'll need to be careful about what treatments you use. Some topical cleansers and pimple creams are contraindicated for use in pregnancy, so you'll need to be careful and read the manufacturer's recommendations before you use anything specific. Mild cleansers are acceptable. Look for products with a pH which matches the skin's usual balance, which is a pH from 4.0 to 7.0. Avoid picking, squeezing, or fiddling with pimples because this can lead to infection and ultimately, scarring. You could use an exfoliant wash in the shower a couple of times a week and an oil-free moisturizer. You may also experience pimples and blackheads on your chest, back, and upper arms. Try using a loofah or body brush to cleanse the pores and keep them free of sebum blockage. Also try using oil-free makeup on your face. If you can, go without. The less clogging of your pores, the better. A very small percentage of pregnant women develop a condition known as pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, otherwise known as PUPP. This is characterized by very itchy, red, and raised lumps over the abdomen, upper thighs, bottom, arms, and legs. This tends to occur towards the second half of pregnancy. Like most other skin conditions, disappears once the baby is born. Acne lotions and creams which contain retinoids or retinols (Vitamin A) are not recommended for use during pregnancy. Check with your maternity care provider and or a pharmacist before using any acne treatments.

Red palms and soles on the feet during pregnancy

You may be surprised to know that an old trick of palm readers is to be able to detect pregnancy even in the very early stages. This is not a demonstration of being able to tell the future as much as picking up on the reddened lines on a pregnant mother's palm due to engorgement of blood. This engorgement of blood occurs on the soles of the feet as well, but it generally doesn’t continue past the first trimester.

Dry skin during pregnancy

Though it's common for pregnant women to experience an increase in their skin's oil production, some women find the opposite is true. Their skin becomes dry and almost devoid of moisture which causes them to feel itchy and uncomfortable.

Treatment for dry skin during pregnancy

For dry skin you need to moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize again. The best time to do this is when your skin is still warm and slightly moist from the shower. Most moisturizers work by holding the skin's moisture within the cells and limiting water loss through evaporation. For women who have eczema, pregnancy can exacerbate symptoms. Red, dry, itchy, and scaly skin patches may need more attention when it comes to moisturizers. Avoid long, hot showers and wearing artificial fibers next to your skin. Sitting in front of a heater and overheating in bed can also lead to a worsening of eczema symptoms. The best way to avoid eczema flare-ups is to maintain the skin's integrity and hydration in the first place.

Skin sensitivity during pregnancy

Even if you have never had skin sensitivity before, during pregnancy you now may find your skin reacts to soaps, moisturizers, deodorants, and even your usual shampoo and conditioners. This change is generally due to hormonal influences. Why some women are affected and others are perfectly fine is a mystery. Sometimes the culprit is perfumes, preservatives, colors, or dyes. If you are affected by skin sensitivity, err on the side of simple and keep your skin cleansing and moisturizing routine simple and mild.

What you can do about skin changes during pregnancy