6 Natural and Simple Ways to Deal with Pregnancy Acne

Hair loss, morning sickness, mood changes, swollen ankles, frequent urination, hormonal imbalance, and the list goes on — these are common symptoms women experience during pregnancy.

Well, along with the positive and the joy of pregnancy also comes the downside which might occur during and after pregnancy.

Unfortunately, your skin isn't excluded from the changes. Chances are, you might also experience what we call — pregnancy acne.

And hormonal changes are to blame. Just as women experience hormonal acne often a week before menstruation or during the period cycle, pregnant women also do experience a hormonal surge of progesterone during their first trimester which eventually leads to acne breakout.

Though not everyone will come across this skin problem, how lucky they are. And since a dermatologist can't predict how long the breakout will last, for sure your skin will get back to normal again. Don't fret!

So, if you do experience this pregnancy acne, don't worry as there are natural, safe, and simple ways you can try to treat it. 

How do you treat pregnancy acne?

1. Find the right, safe, and natural skincare

A rule of thumb in skincare — always go for gentle ones whether facial wash, moisturizer, and so on and so forth. You'll get a lot of peace of mind knowing that it won't cause more harm and damage.

Moreover, please avoid certain chemical ingredients in skincare such as paraben, retinol, aluminum chloride, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic aid which may be harmful for pregnancy especially in huge amounts. This is why you'll get more peace of mind knowing your skincare is natural and safe.

Remember these skincare tips:

• Don't forget to change your towels as well as pillowcases more often. 
• Resist touching your acne and face. 
• Do wash your hair on a regular basis and keep it off your face when it's oily. 
• Be sure to clean your face properly before going to bed after using make-up. 

• Look for oil-free skin-care products, it's better if it's labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic so it won't cause pimple. 

2. Avoid and resist the temptation to pick 

We have the tendency to pick our pimple often especially when we get used to doing it before. Unfortunately, this can only make the matter worse as it may lead to the bacteria living in acne the chance to spread.  So, please resist the urge of picking it in any circumstances. Better to just leave it alone.

Plus, avoid over-exfoliating and don't overdo any treatments. This kind of attempt to save your skin and heal faster will just ruin the skin barrier and will just make things worse than what it may seem to be. 

3. Keep stress in check

Well, some experts say that stress won't give you acne. But if you do have acne or just even a pimple and feel like it goes out of control making you stressed out, then this can make the acne worse by releasing an increased level of stress hormones.

Simply put, stress makes your acne worse. When you are under stress, healing might take longer than it should be.

4. Eat wholesome and nutritious food 

Food affects our skin. And our well-loved sugary food can even cause even pimple breakouts.

Moreso, to avoid more breakouts, health experts suggest avoiding food that can raise our blood sugar levels. This is because when our blood sugar rises, it increases the production of sebum which leads to more acne breakouts and even inflammation.

That's why it's necessary to choose wholesome and nutrient-dense food that is rich in vitamins and minerals. Not only it's good for the healthy, but for the skin as well.

5. Increase your dietary intake of Vitamin A

Vitamin A serves as an antioxidant. And antioxidants are known to promote good skin, may lessen skin aging, and may help the skin repair itself as it fights free radicals, plus ward off inflammation.

This is probably why retinol, a common vitamin A topical form is widely known as a skincare ingredient to prevent and treat acne.

6. Consult your doctor to get a topical treatment

When you're getting stressed out with the your acne breakout and it worse, maybe it's time to consult your doctor. Though topical treatment that is safe to use, still it's better if you're sure about which to take for pregnancy. 

Be sure to pick products that do not contain irritating ingredients.  Avoid parabens, fragrance, oils, and alcohol, as these ingredients can further irritate the skin and can be harmful for your pregnancy. 

Love + miracles,