A (MOM)ENT LIKE THIS
Hello lovelies!
Ahead of Mother’s Day, this week’s blog entry will discuss pregnancy skin. During a woman’s life, she may encounter various milestones of womanhood, such as puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause alongside monthly fluctuation of hormone cycles. Although I am neither a gynaecologist or dermatologist, the information provided in this blog is taken from those qualified in these fields.
What to expect when you’re expecting:
Hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy can alter your skin. Some changes you may notice include pregnancy acne, stretch marks, skin tags, melasma, hyperpigmentation and other skin conditions and sensitivities.
Skin tags
During pregnancy skin tags can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found inside the armpit and under the breasts. These small growths are completely harmless. In some cases, they will go away on their own, however, if they do bother you, they can be easily removed by a dermatologist after delivery.
Melasma
Melasma is a type of skin hyperpigmentation, it is estimated that this condition affects 70% of pregnant women, making it one of the most common skin conditions during pregnancy. Whilst the exact reasoning for Melasma is still to be found, it is predicted that it may be related to fluctuation in hormone levels. Melasma often develops on the forehead, cheeks, nose and around the mouth – which is why it is referred to as the ‘mask of pregnancy’. The dark patches are more common in women with darker skin tones, but can be experienced by all pregnant women. Some women will only experience the condition whilst pregnant, whilst for others it may continue after baby is here. No cure has been found, as of yet, but there are treatments to help lighten the darker patches and prevent it developing further - (DEWCY) has something special launching later this year so watch this space!
Stretch marks
Stretch marks are thought to affect 80% of pregnant women. The most common places for them are on your tummy, upper thighs, and breasts, but they can be found anywhere. They can be pink, red, purple, or brown in colour depending on your skin tone and the severity of the stretch marks. Research suggests that keeping the skin hydrated and moisturised is the best way to prevent stretch marks, however, there is no treatment or skincare that can guarantee full prevention. Stretch marks develop when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly, and the abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin to tear. Skincare oils have been proven to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars but will likely not fully eradicate the marks.
Acne
There are a plethora of reasons as to why acne prone skin maybe more common during pregnancy. Firstly, pregnancy causes an increase in hormones, which are known to trigger or worsen the severity of existing acne. Secondly, pregnancy can alter the body’s oil production causing a surge in sebum, which can clog the pores and cause breakouts.
Whilst for some women, this may be the case, others experience extremely dry skin. Pregnancy hormones can make dry skin even drier which can result in itchy, dehydrated skin making the skin texture rough and flaky. If you already experience skin conditions such as eczema, hyperpigmentation, rosacea etc, these may be amplified during pregnancy.
Sensitive skin
During pregnancy it is common to develop sensitive skin. If this is something you already deal with, it may worsen. This is due to those oh-so-wonderful fluctuating hormone levels and because your skin stretches as you gain weight, and your baby grows. All DEWCY products are created to effectively treat skin conditions and manage skin sensitivities simultaneously. Our products are deemed ‘pregnancy-safe’ but a little honesty behind that term is that according to dermatologists most over the counter products qualify as this.
“Most people don't need to make significant changes to their beauty routines,” says Hayley Goldbach, MD, FAAD, FACMS, a double board-certified dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, and assistant professor of dermatology at Brown University. “Most over-the-counter products are perfectly safe in pregnancy."
However, whilst this is the case some dermatologists will still advise that whilst pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding these are things to consider:
- Avoiding retinol/retinoids and Vitamin A derivatives.
- Salicylic acid, niacinamides and Vitamin C can be used during pregnancy, but it is recommended to use a low percentage e.g., under 2%. If you are unsure, please consult a dermatologist.
I do hope you have found this entry informative and useful, and that you have a wonderful Mother’s Day celebrating motherhood, whether that is for yourself, your own mother/grandmother or sisters and friends around you who make incredible Mum/Mummy/Mummas!
Take care lovelies!
xoxo
Reference list
Oakley, A. (2021). Skin problems in pregnancy | DermNet NZ. [online] dermnetnz.org. Available at
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-changes-in-pregnancy
Oconnor, A. (2022). What Skin Changes Can You Expect During Pregnancy? [online] What to Expect. https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/skin-changes.aspx [Accessed 17 Mar. 2023].
www.acog.org. (n.d.). Skin Conditions During Pregnancy. [online] Available at:
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/skin-conditions-during-pregnancy