SKINIPEDIA - Skin Encyclopedia: The Pregnancy Skin Glow

The Skin Glow of Pregnancy - More Than a Myth

The skin glow of pregnancy is more than a myth. It is caused by hormonal changes that are occurring in a woman’s body due to pregnancy. It is quite likely that these changes will persist throughout the pregnancy, and will clear up either after childbirth, or post-breastfeeding. Professional treatments can be used to slow the development of certain conditions, such as hyper pigmentation, as well as control acne.

Products to avoid when dealing with pregnancy related skin care:

* Consult a professional Esthetician. Make sure they have advanced training in skin diagnosis and working with pregnant skin. Let them make some recommendations and treatment plans related to causing change in your skin,

* Care for your skin at least twice a day in order to get maximum results.

* Make sure to throw out your old products. Skin care products are only good for 6 months open, and 2 years on the shelf,

* Avoid harsh soaps and high pH products. They can strip the skin's natural protection leaving it permeable, and vulnerable to environmental injury,

* Avoid Salicylic Acid (or any sort of willow derivative). While small amounts of salicylic acid have been deemed safe, high doses, or use of multiple products containing low doses of salicylic acid, in oral form have been shown in studies to cause birth defects or pregnancy complications. The greater amount of the product used on the skin, the greater the absorption into the bloodstream. It is safest to avoid salicylic acid during pregnancy.

* Avoid Soy. While soy based products are generally safe to use during pregnancy, the phyto-estrogen effects of soy can result in the darkening of pre-existing melasma (hyper pigmentation during pregnancy). It is best to avoid it if the condition is present on the skin.

* Avoid Vitamin A - in all forms: Accutane, Retin A, Tretinoin, Retinol, Resorcinol. High doses of Vitamin A can cause birth defects.

The Glow of Pregnancy

Home care regimen for pregnancy related skin care:

* Twice a day, use a sensitive skin, soap-free, cleanser containing lavender as a natural antiseptic, and cucumber to help calm the skin,

* Use a toner that contains lavender, balm mint, arnica, and cucumber in order to utilize the natural antiseptic of the lavender and soothe the skin,

* 2-3 times a week, exfoliate skin with a mild enzyme based exfoliant containing papain and bromelain enzymes to treat the hyper pigmentation,

* On blemishes, apply a sulfur and zinc oxide based treatment to eliminate acneic bacteria, and to control excess oil production,

* Once a week, use a vitamin C Masque to aid with antioxidant effect of reducing free radicals in the skin that can contribute to inflammation and subsequent response of melanogenesis (further creation of dark hyper pigmentation),

* Use a moisturizer twice a day that is oil-free, and contains ingredients such as lemon, ivy, watercress, and burdock to prevent dehydration,

* Use a sunscreen daily that contains a broad spectrum UVA and UVB sun block of an SPF of 30, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, in order to protect against further free radical damage and hyper pigmentation.


Article brought to you by Michelle Macomber, of The Best Facials in San Diego, Surface Esthetics.

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