Acne During Pregnancy

One woman writes on babycenter.com “I’m 13 weeks pregnant and having the worst time with acne. It’s affecting my relationship with my husband — I feel like I look so terrible, I want to avoid him and everyone else. My doctor told me not to use over-the-counter medications. What can I do?”

A doctor reposnded: “Hello Michelle! I am a skin care therapist and have studied acne quite intensively throughout my schooling. There is Hope! Whatever you do, do not try Proactiv! The long term effects of proactiv will have a much more negative effect on your skin than the symptoms you are experiencing now. Acne during pregnancy is hormonal, which is good news, because once the hormones are regulated, this usually means that the skin will normalize. In the mean time however, there are other ways to treating skin diseases such as acne, other than topically. Adjusting your diet will help tremendously. Foods that contain antioxidants (good guys) help fight off free radicals (bad guys) which causes diseases like acne. Foods like salmon, dark green veggies, olives, berries, strawberries, cantaloupe, and xtra virgin olive oil all contain powerful antioxidants. Not only will your skin begin to look better, but this kind of diet will also be beneficial for the baby! Good Luck!”

So you are pregnant. Great news! Got acne. Not great but that’s ok, quite common. Acne is common in pregnancy.You do not have to rush to the doctor in most cases as the above response shows. What you can do along with maintaining a healthy diet is, use topical counter products available in stores. If you feel that they are not effective then you can consult your gynecologist. If you decide to consult a dermatologist, make sure that you tell them you are pregnant if you aren’t already showing. Any medications that will be prescribed should be as safe as possible.

Most of the hormonal changes that take place in the body lead to acne. Along with pregnancy, there are a number of new hormones that are generated. This hormonal haywire causes acne. This is not a serious problem. You do not have to run to the doctor, if it is not that serious you can try lotions and gels that are available in the market. Most of these topical solutions will be useful during pregnancy for treating acne. Be aware of ingredients always and try to choose organic natural products if possiblele. You can take advice of your dermatologist for the same.

However, taking oral medications like antibiotics during pregnancy for acne is highly risky. It can seriously affect the fetus and the child may be born with serious birth defects.

Pregnancy acne is most prominent during the second trimester and fades further in the third trimester due to immense hormonal changes. However your skin’s texture may also be improved by this time and the pregnancy “glow” may be observed. Starting with fruits and veggies, will give glow to your skin. Make sure you have enough of water to keep the skin hydrated. Above all, remember, pregnancy acne is nothing to worry about. It is a sign that your body is changing and is trying to get adapted to new physical alterations. This is a positive thing. The hormones change for better. It is a temporary condition rather than a true skin disorder.

Some Great Acne Home Remedies

Acne is not a new problem; people have been suffering from it for many thousands of years. In ancient Egypt for instance, oils were often used to soften and smooth the skin. It is only in recent times that people have begun to use acne creams made of chemical ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, among others. These can not only have unwanted side effects, like the drying of healthy skin or the bleaching of clothing, but can be very costly.It’s no mystery that our grandmothers seemed to know best. When it comes to health and skin, the more natural the ingredient, the better. Of course, there are times when natural remedies may not be as effective and that is Ok. However, just be aware of the natural options you have first, before you waste a lot of money on another product that doesn’t work. Many people today discovering the old-world secrets in caring for their bodies more naturally, and are turning to natural and herbal remedies, such as the following simple ‘kitchen cures’.

Acne Remedy #1: Make a paste of nutmeg powder and milk, and apply to your face in a thin layer. Leave on for up to an hour, or even overnight.

Acne Remedy #2: Take an orange peel and leave it to dry, and then grind it to a powder. Mix with water and apply directly to the pimple.

Acne Remedy #3: Applying garlic directly to a pimple can also be a great remedy, as garlic is a natural disinfectant.

Acne Remedy #4: Mix a spoonful each of fresh lemon juice and cinnamon. Apply to the acne overnight for several nights in a row to be effective.

Acne Remedy #5: Take fresh leaves of fenugreek and grind to make an acne remedy that is also said to be effective in reducing wrinkles. It should be left on for only fifteen minutes.

Acne Remedy #6: Papaya juice, which is high in natural enzymes, makes a wonderful acne solution all on its own.

Acne Remedy #7: Boil a cup of milk, and then allow to cool to room temperature, and add a spoonful of limejuice to make a acne face wash.

Acne Remedy #8: Mix rosewater, cucumber juice and lime juice in equal amounts. Apply to clean face and leave on overnight.

Chemical skin care ingredients you should avoid if you are acne-prone or have oily skin in combination with acne:

• Butyl stearate
• Cinnamon Oil
• Isotearyl isostearate
• Cocoa butter
• Jojoba oil
• Coconut oil
• Decyl oleate
• Myristyl myristate
• Myristyl propionate
• Octyl palminate
• Octyl stearate
• Peppermint Oil
• Isopropyl stearate
• Isopropyl, isostearate, myristate or palmitate

Try several of these natural remedies and see which one is best for you, be aware that it can take several days to have an effect. Make sure you use clean spoons and dishes to mix your remedies, and remember to wash your face as usual in between treatments.